Jackson Pollock in the Making
O’s obsession with Pens or Pencils has increase ten fold in the last few weeks. When she grabs a pen, she goes to the coffee table and makes drawing motions on the catalog pages. At day care they told me that O steals the other kids crayons and paper, goes under the table and starts to draw. I can just picture her sitting, hiding under the table, moving the little crayon around… I would use the word Draw loosely, but I guess in a Modern sense, she is indeed drawing. Her drawings are very reminiscent of Jackson Pollock’s free style and lines. And in some ways, she sits in a similar manner as Pollock when drawing: Jackson Pollock I even thought of add a small bottle of Jack Daniels next to her and take a picture, but I thought against it as it might be considered inappropriate.
We bought her a pack of Crayolas and paper to drawn on. The problem is that she doesn’t realize that the crayon can leave marks on the floor and the wall. So we’ve had to contain her artistic expression to her room or to the play mat in the living room. Removing the crayons from her death grip as she starts wobbling away is not an easy task or achieved without any tears.
But in all fairness, she does have artistic genes in her from her dad’s side. Her great grandfather was an established painter. Her great aunt is very artistic and works in special effects for movies. Her 2nd cousin (DH’s cousin) is also a painter and finished a degree of Fine Arts. So you never know, she could be a starving artist or use her skills for evil and make lots of money.
CONFESSION
I have a secret stash of shopping at work. On Wednesday I went shopping at DSW and after being accosted to sign up for their membership program, I bought two pairs of flats. Then I made the mistake of checking my credit card balance online, and freaked out a bit. I probably should have checked the balance before going shopping. Or go back to DSW to return one pair of shoes. But no, not I. Instead, I wore one pair of shoes home, so DH would not notice the new pair of shoes. It has been one week and he has not noticed yet. Then one night, as I was searching online looking at baby stuff, he says to me, “Stop buying all this stuff for O.” To which I responded, I like to look, not buy. He says, “I bet you order a lot of stuff and have it delivered at work. I bet you have a secret stash of shopping at work.” OMG…. Did my coworkers call him and tell him??? Now I have to wait at least 3 more weeks before I take the last pair of shoes home.
Bain of My Existence
There are several things during this first year of O’s life that have been a misery to me, but a necessary misery.
1. Baby Monitors. For obvious reasons these are a necessary evil. The reason I call them evil is because the batteries are AWFUL!! I mean, when they designed these, did they not consider that the battery life should be at least 12 hours with constant noise? When O was little and I would put the monitor on, baby would continue to sleep, but the battery would run out of the monitor inevitably at like 4 am. Until my Sweety Husband mentioned, “Why don’t you just keep it plugged in?” GENIUS!! Except now, the battery on both monitors run out in like 4 hours. For our small house, that is not a problem. But going to visit grandparents, it becomes a bit problematic. And I thought I was the only one who had this problem. Until I went to visit my friend (who has twins), and I noticed she too keeps her monitors plugged in. I guess she too found out how evil these are.
2. Nail Clippers. My God… If there is a way for nails not to grow as quickly, I would love it. As she gets stronger and stronger, it’s becoming tougher and tougher to hold her still to cut her nails. I don’t even use clippers, but these really delicate nail scissors. But now when I cut her nails, I try not to take an eye out and DH holds her down. And she’s screaming and crying, because obviously this is the worst thing that has happened to her (until you see the next point), and she would be much happier to scratch her face up like Edward Scissorhands then hold still for 5 minutes to get her nails cut. I will not mention cutting the toenails, as that is bordering on traumatic experience.
3. Rubber Nasal Aspirator. You pretty much use the saline drops to try to break through the crusty build up around her nose. Then DH holds her down, while I try to suck out the nasties. Or you hope she sneezes the snotties out. Hmmmm… All good in theory except for the piercing screams. If I were her, I would consider cutting nails a BREEZE!!
4. Musical Ladybug. This thing is a pink ladybug, that lights up and sings songs as you press a button. She loves this sucker. And LOVES pushing the button. It’s great, but that thing is super loud and I still haven’t figured out how to turn that thing off, or miraculously “flies away” without too many tears.
Addendum
5. How could I forget? The ear thermometer. I am not sure how you can stick the thermometer in a squirmy baby’s ear AND place it in the correct location to get an accurate reading. I’ve had anything from 95.5 to 102.5. I think we are going to switch a rectal thermometer. Much more accurate. And FYI, you need to 0.5 degrees when taking temperature by the ear. Rectal is the most accurate. We just need to make sure NOT to confuse our thermometer with her thermometer. YUCK!
Big Fatty Liar
Today I get a frantic phone call from V at daycare, that O has a temperature 100.4. So I rush from my meeting, on the subway, and go to pick her up. I get there, and all the kids are tucked in for their nap, Monsters Inc. playing in the background. And I see O, she screams her usual excited exclamation. And I pick her up, and she’s all smiles, and laughing, and huggy. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with her. I kiss her and she laughs, I put her down and she screams. I find out she did not eat her absolute favorite YoBaby yogurt. Then I get her home, and she’s happy and smiley. The first thing she does she goes to her toy box and start pulling out toys. Is that the behavior of a sick baby? I don’t think so! Then I fed her the spinach concoction, and she’s happy. Now she happy napping, and mommy is finishing her emails. And later we’ll go out and vote!!
Addendum
She was totally NOT sick. After her nap, she was happy with an occasional whining, but that is to be expected. She played handing a brochure from me to her daddy and back again, and again…and again for at least 20 minutes. Hugging her froggy! Playing with her toys. Hmmm… tomorrow, mommy is not falling for her cheap tricks!
Nasty or Yummy?
In an effort to lower O’s lead level and feed her foods high in Iron, I have to make more green foods for her eat. Over the weekend I fed her in addition to YoBaby Yogurt (her absolute FAVORITE) broccoli and cheese.
Steamed broccoli, chopped in a mini food processor, and mixed with shredded cheese; Heated in microwave for 20 seconds; Mixed with mashed banana and voila…Iron AND Potassium!!
But the piece de resistance… Spinach with sauteed onions, garlic and apple. That’s right, APPLE. Steam spinach. In a medium size pan heat up olive oil. Saute the 1/4 cup chopped onion and 1 crushed garlic clove. As the onion becomes translucent, add 3 cubed apples and continue sauteing. Add the spinach, and 1-1/2 cup of chicken stock, lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes until the apples become soft. Puree in food processor, and voila… Yummy Yummy in baby’s tummy!
Blood Tests
The other day, O had blood tests done. She crying as squirming at the doctor, it was so sad to watch her! I don’t think it was the needle that scared her, but the fact that everyone was holding her arm down. She hates to be constrained in any fashion.
A few days later I get a call that O’s lead levels are higher than normal. Slight freak out, but I contain it until I get home. When I pick her up at day care, I ask V if her daughter had this. And she said yes. And suggested that I feed her foods that help lower the lead levels.
I get home and do a whole bunch of research, and found a few helpful websites: Mamapedia where I found answers from parents, and it basically said that some kids do have a little elevated levels, and as long as it doesn’t go any higher, it should be fine. So basically I now need to feed her foods high in Iron, and here is a list Foods High In Iron.
In a month we go back for another test but in the mean time, she’ll be eating lots of broccoli and spinach. Yummy!
Old McDonald…
This weekend we went with TarteTitou to Queens County Farm Museum. It was super fun, and much more engaging than the Bronx Zoo. First off, it was a Children Fair, so all the kiddies were encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. Fortunately it was a BEAUTIFUL day, and it wasn’t too cold.
It was chilly in the shade, hence the hat.
As a brand new walker (about 4 days), she refuses to go in her stroller now. And with all the other kiddies around, she couldn’t help but waddle around. The added padding on the bum of the ladybug costume, not only emphasized the derriere, but accentuated the waddling even more. Her waddling attracted a lot of smiles and attention (but I mean, who wouldn’t think O was super cute????) And we ran into a sleeping ladybug as well, which was super fun.
But it was a challange to keep her contained. Since she wanted to do it on her own, and she would push my hand away. I guess this is what everyone has been saying, “Now you’re in for it!” Still had to carry her a lot, and today, my arms are KILLING me!! Carrying her fattiness around is not so easy.
On a scale of 1 to 10 on the engagement of 1 year toddlers, I would say this is definitely a 9. The animals were much closer to her than at the Bronx Zoo, she was much more excited about the sheep and the especially the ducks. They also had a Maize Maze, but O was getting cranky and a bit overstimulated, so we had to cut the trip short. But next year, I think she will have even more fun.
OMFG
Hope you are ALL sitting down before reading this.
Since before O was born, I received a subscription for Parenting Magazine. Must have signed up for it for free when I bought something. Anyway. They’ve been coming for awhile now (I think they forgot to take me off the list). And every month I place it in the bathroom for reading material (I know, gross, but that’s our household). I figured DH never picks it up since there are a whole bunch of National Geographic Adventure. Then the other night, DH reference an article in the latest Parenting Magazine. I KID YOU NOT!!! OH my, what is this world coming to??
How to Get Your Own Drunken Midget
I forgot to mention in the previous post on what steps need to be taken to get your own Drunken Midget:
- Have a niece on standby (or find a kid, about 10 years old). Nieces are perfect because they are usually super excited to help with the baby, and are just the right height so they can hold the baby’s arms without getting a backache. Otherwise, stock up on Icy Cold Patches becuase you will be bent over A LOT!
- Get a little push walker. I’ve heard that the shopping cart is really good. O likes the Woodpecker one. However, you still have to bend over since before she gets really stable, you want to make sure she won’t fly off the handle.
- Finger holding. As soon as got a bit more stable on her feet, she did not want me to hold both her hands. She would push my one hand away. And after awhile, she didn’t even want my hand in her hand. Just my finger.
- Then, we would play, “Come to Mommy!” from the coffee table to her play mat a few feet away.
- The trick after awhile was to hand her something to hold with both hands. Like a favorite furry book, and by holding it in both hands, she felt more secure and confident and would walk by herself. And as soon as she would lose her grip on the toy, she would fall down. But at least she got a lot of practice this way.
- And now, she is walking by herself all over the place.
Hope this helps.
Two White Knobs
Growing up in a communist country, where any little cavity required complete drilling of the tooth and filling it with awful silver filling, I am now obsessed with O’s two teeth. I must at all costs instill in her a concern for the health of her teeth (I mean isn’t that why I had a child? To pass to her my anxieties?) I needed to start early with the brushing of the teeth. Not to mention that every book I read scared the bejesus out of me that if I don’t start brushing her teeth she will never get in the habit of brushing her teeth. After the fiasco I encounter every time I try to cut her nails, I thought, I would never be able to stick anything in her mouth and giggle it around and rub her gums. But ye have little faith!!
I broke down the process in manageable goals: 1st to put something in her mouth. 2nd to move it around. 3rd to actually brush her two teeth, gums, and tongue.
I started out with Spiffies Toothwipes Apple Flavor. Now don’t be alarmed by the creepy looking child on the box. If you can get passed that these things are GOLD!! Of course the first time, O had to fight it, but once she tasted the yummy apple flavor, she couldn’t get enough. She would even start screaming and flailing her arms if I wasn’t quick enough opening the individual packets quickly enough. I would move the towelette around her mouth, so she got used to the motion. Goal 1 and 2: COMPLETE
Then, we had to upgrade to the Baby Orajel Tooth and Gum Cleaner. You get this little rubber brush that you put on your finger. (Sidebar. I had a similar thing to clean the dog’s teeth.) At first, I couldn’t get the toothbrushy thing near her. But then I put a bit of the gel on my finger, and all of a sudden, she can’t go to sleep without getting the two teeth brushed. Goal 3: COMPLETE
Next, holding and brushing her own teeth. But I hope at that point she will have more than the two…..
