Cheeks Deflate

Madeline may no longer be the Cheekiest Baby in the World...maybe just the county.  She has a case of the stomach flu and has not been able to eat much the past two days.  We took her to see Dr. Lavin this morning (yes, our doctor is so awesome that he comes in to see sick kids on the weekends!).  We thought she might have an ear infection or strep because she was tugging at her ears.  

Turns out, it is just the stomach flu. The poor baby has been miserable and vomiting all over us.  Alex and I have both been covered from head to toe a couple times.  Dr. Lavin was very helpful in giving advice for how to keep Madeline hydrated to avoid a trip to the ER for an IV later on.  You know how I feel about those...(worse than childbirth) 

I can't believe that Madeline's cheeks mellowed out so much in such a short time.  Ah, give her a day or two.  She will regain her title as Cheekiest Baby in the World.

**Top photo taken on Tuesday.

**Second photo taken on previous Friday.

She Speaks...Seriously

Madeline is 7 1/2 months.  She speaks.  Seriously.  Imagine my surprise!

I only know two signs in sign language:  all done and more. So, I say those two words constantly.  It would probably be easier to just learn some more signs.  Ah, I'm lazy.

So anyways, this morning I was feeding Madeline her bottle.  I was conducting an experiment, trying to make her eat more than 5 ounces.  For the first time in awhile, I prepared 7 ounces.  As you all have heard me rant, this formula is like gold, so unless I really believe that she might eat more, I never bother making it.  I did not think she would eat the 7 ounces, but I just wanted it to work, so I tried anyways.  In my head, I think feeding her milk 3 times a day instead of 4 would cut down on sitting time (she has to sit an hour after each meal).  Oh well, it ain't happening!

When she finished the five ounces, she swatted the bottle away and said clear as day, "all done".  I assumed it was just a fluke and I held her arm down and tried to offer her the rest, but she just threw her head back in refusal.  I did laughingly tell Amy and Marilyn about it on our play date.

Fast forward to the afternoon.  We came home and it was time for her next bottle.  The same thing happened.  She finished her five ounces, but was still kind of chewing on the bottle.  Optimistically, I figured she did that to signal she wanted more.  So I made her two more ounces.  We sat down on the couch and I offered her the bottle.  And again, clear as day, she said, "all done" and pushed the bottle away.  Again I held her arms and again she threw her head back in refusal.  She looked at me again, as if to say, "did I studder?"  She repeated, clear as day, "all done".  Keep in mind there was no babbling before or after.  We are talking silence, "all done," silence.  

At this point, I feel like my head is spinning, going, could this be???  I call my mom and she agrees to come over after work.  Ok, so I try to put her down for a nap after this bottle incident.  She screams and cries for several minutes.  I figured she really didn't need the third nap.  I force the first two, but she rarely takes a third anymore, and I don't bother getting her all in a tizzy for nothing.  Ok, so I go in and she gives me the world's biggest pout with tears streaming down her cheeks, she says, "all done".  I say, "are you all done sleeping?  If you want to go down and play, just say, 'all done'."  She sits quietly for about two seconds, and you can tell her mind is churning.  And then in a pouty voice she says, "all done."  

At this point, I know it is real.  She has only said it a few times, and always in context.  My mom comes over in time for dinner.  She had eaten peas and I tried for one last bite.  She pushed my hand back and said, "all done".  No matter how many times I tried to feed her after that, her lips were sealed.  Even my mom said it was intentional.

My mom went home and looked in my baby book (I didn't know I had one!)  Apparently, at 7 1/2 months, I also spoke a two word phrase, "hi daddy".  Go figure.  The baby did get more from me than a birth mark on her arm and a blue vein on her nose!

For those of you math whizes out there....it's true, I threw out 4 ounces of formula today!  We are talking like $30 worth.  =(

Madeline is Growing So Fast

Madeline is growing so fast---and I don't just mean her crazy hair.  She can do so many cool tricks...I just wanted to share a few.

My favorite is that when she gets excited to see me, she grabs my face with both hands and plants a huge wet kiss on my cheek and gives me a hug.  The best!

She can sit up nearly independently.  She still topples over, but she is really close.  The next week or two for sure.  

Madeline can lift up on her arms like a push up and even get her butt off the floor.  She can pivot around 360* and lunge forward or scootch backwards (much to her dismay when she is trying to get a toy).  She STILL cannot roll from stomach to back!

Madeline is obsessed with a book my mom bought for her called Baby Boo!  I can recall every word by heart, as she made me read it about 30 times today.  Talk about an attention span.

One of Madeline's favorite activities is to look out our picture window and name the cars and their colors as they go by our house.  We sit on the couch cheek to cheek and list them one at a time.  She finds it very relaxing.  

Madeline has been eating baby food for several months and has tried pretty much all of the level two foods except meat and dairy.  Today she went crazy over green beans.  They are one of my favorites, too.  The only food she hasn't liked is pears.  I dont' like them either, so I can't blame her.  It is the texture.

Her cheeks are so big they could pop off her face.  She thinks it is funny when we try to eat them.

Madeline tried a cheerio for the first time today.  She didn't like it.

She can stand up from a laying down or seated postion if you hold her hands.

Madeline loves to go out.  She loves riding in the car, and looking at the ceiling/lights everywhere we go.  She never peeps when we take her to stores, just looks around.  

Madeline looks at you with huge puppy dog eyes when she sees you eating table food.  She is so interested in it, but is a bit less interested in her food. 

GREAT SUCCESS!  The insurance company has agreed to pay 70% of her formula costs!  YES!

Concussion and an Awesome NY Trip

Very dark picture of Alec Baldwin and Mary Louis Parker taken from Sam's iPhone.

Here is the update that may explain why I have been slow to blog lately. A little over a week ago, I hit my head (really hard) accidentally on the solid brass piece that holds the chain lock on our front door. It hurt so bad and after seeing black and stars, I ended up going to the doctor and subsequently geting a catscan (negative). At first it was just unbelievably painful, but as time went by, it moved to more of a dizzy, cruise ship kind of a feel. It is still persisting even now, but I feel a bit better today.

Meanwhile, I ended up going to New York anyways and we had the best time! Ok so here is the scoop...

On the trip were my parents, our family friend Debbie, her daughter (and dear friend) Grant and Grant's fiance, Sam. Michael, my brother, was also there because he lives there and I stayed at his place.

We went to a restaurant called the Waverly Inn, known for its celebrity sitings. Michael had to wait in line 2 days ahead at noon to get the reservations because that is the only way you can get them. It paid off, we saw 4 celebs. Alec Baldwin was there eating with Mary Louise Parker. He and I ordered the same meal, a fish cooked on a cedar plank. She ordered the $65 mac and cheese with truffles. He looks exactly the same in real life and his head is huge! She looks young and somewhat meek. We also saw PBS anchor Charlie Rose, making Michael's day. Last, was Iron Chef Mario Batali. Good thing we didn't eat at his restaurant--he was eating at ours.

Michael's place was really nice. He bought a new bed just for me to sleep in and it was very comfortable.

So, the next day we went to Kleinfeld's, the place where they show the TLC's Say Yes to the Dress. They had a sign up that they were filming, but they weren't. Grant found a fabulous dress that she looked amazing in! She looked great in everything she tried, but the dress she picked was perfect. I regret that I can not give more info about the dress since we have to keep it a secret until the wedding.

Dinner was at Bravo's Top Chef head judge Tom Collichio's place called Craft. Wow. The man can be a judge. The ambiance was amazing and the food was even better.

All in all, it was an amazing trip from start to finish. It couldn't have gone better, except if Alex had been able to come. But, the trip was made even better because Madeline was perfect for Alex. What an awesome husband I have to let me go on this fabulous trip while he stays home with our baby.

Highs and Lows

Today (and the past couple days for that matter) have been filled with highs and a few lows.  Madeline has had separation anxiety for several months that has increased over time.  My motto on caring for Madeline is (with the exception of Mom, Dad, or Grandmas), "it's all fun and games until someone tries to touch her."  Talk to her all you want.  She probably won't smile, but she won't scream either.  She doesn't even like kids to touch her very often.  This has started to impact her bedtime/naptimes.  Sleeping is one problem we have managed to avoid thus far.  Now, all of the sudden, Madeline does not want to go to sleep.  If I go up while she is crying, she immediately stops until I leave again.  As soon as the door shuts, back to the wailing.  That has been a bit frustrating.  I know I should let her cry it out, at least for awhile, but it isn't easy.  I plan to try to make an effort to leave her alone because no amount of my comforting relaxes her enough to maintain the comfort after I walk out of the room.  Ok, enough about the lows.

So guess who sat up unassisted for the first time today?  Ok, I guess no hints are necessary!  Miss Madeline can now sit with her arms down on the ground for a few minutes!  What luck that Alex walked into the door just as she did it for the first time.  And believe it or not, she didn't even fall over when I yelled to him to run and grab the camera!

And now for more great news!!!  I am taking my first trip away from the baby since she was born.  I am going to NYC to visit my brother for 2 days.  My parents will also be going for an anniversary trip, as well as my good friend Grant, her mom (and close family friend Debbie) and Grant's fiance, Sam.  I am so psyched to see everyone together again and eat at some fabulous restaurants.  We are going to Craft (Tom Colicchio's restaurant) and another place called Staton Social.  I am REALLY, REALLY grateful to Alex for being willing to stay home alone with the baby.  I am nervous about leaving her because of the separation anxiety, but I think it will help me be a better mom because I will be more energized to take care of her!  

Ewwww!

We started feeding Madeline real food over a month ago.  I would say she is still not very interested in it.  She eats a total of around 1 jar a day over two different feedings.  Madeline is a bit inconsistent about her opinions of certain foods.  She will chow down bananas one day, and cry the next.  But, we keep plugging along.  

Today she tried carrots for the second time.  She had them last night and ate her whole dish!  Madeline sneezed at the exact same time that I put a spoonful in her mouth.  Yuck!  She sneezed them all over me and my nice shirt I had put on for our visit from my friend Kym.  Of course, I was so shocked that I had my mouth wide open and let's just say, I wasn't in a carrot mood.

And so, I pass on a piece a valuable advice:  if you think the baby may sneeze, just wait and make sure before feeding something to them, especially if it is a brightly colored, pureed veggie!

All About Me...

My friend Janie writes a blog called, Janie in Madison.  There is a link to it on my website.  I think it is my favorite blog to read.  She is opinionated, honest, and leads a fabulous single life.  Despite being friends since nursery school, we rarely actually agree on things, but I like her blog because she puts it all out there.  

I decided to take one blog posting and follow Janie's lead in presenting an honest look at myself.  For better or worse, here it goes.

I am relatively happy person.  I love my husband.  A lot.   I love my baby.  I love her smile.  I am almost always on time, except when I am early.  I find lateness rude.  I am often anxious, except about babies and motherhood.  I am a good mother--that isn't meant to be braggy, I just love motherhood.  I think many other people who parent differently than me are also great moms.  I love teaching.  I keep kosher.  I don't expect other people to keep kosher.  I don't look down on people that don't.  I just do it for me because I think it is the right decision for me.  When I go to someone's house for dinner, I feel bad when people make me something different.  I can find something to eat anywhere I go.  I love food.  If I don't like the way something tastes, I won't eat it to be polite.  My philosphy is to try not to do things that make more work for other people--but, I am not perfect at it.  I am private and conservative.  I try to make good decisions.  I care about other people.  I am generous to my friends and family.  I love my parents.  I like to spend time with them.  I would love them even if I didn't have--they are just good people.  I am proud of my education.  I do not feel strongly about only wearing name brand clothes, but I rarely shop at places that don't sell them.  I would rather buy one or two good, expensive pieces than 25 cheap ones that don't look good or fit me properly.  I am easily embarassed.  I am a terrible speller.  I think helping the environment is important, but I don't do as much as I could.  I prefer to grocery shop at Heinen's.  I just think it is organized better.  I speak, read, and write in French.  I can read and write in Hebrew.  I can finger spell in Sign Language.  I can speak a few words of Russian and Spanish.  My favorite color is green, but I am comfortable in beige.  Almost every room in our house is a form of beige.  I am not crazy about musical theater.  I used to love movies, but now I would rather spend money on other things.  I think Dr. Karp who created The Happiest Baby on the Block is a genius.  I rarely like to be the center of attention.  I would never wear a bikini.  My feelings are easily hurt, but I most likely wouldn't let you know that you hurt them.  I almost never cry in public.  I cannot sing at all.  I am neither artsy nor craftsy.  My childhood dream was to learn the acoustic guitar, but I never told anyone.  Alex bought me an acoustic guitar for my 26th birthday.  I taught myself to play.  I am terrible at sports.  I always was.  My favorite number is 4.  I think I am naive.  I like to cook, but hate to bake.  I don't like to measure.  I like spending time with my grandma.  I can't dance.  I like to read.  I like to blog.  I check my email about 50 times a day.  I mostly wear black. I am an indoor girl.  I don't like going places without heat/AC.  I try so hard to be non-judgemental.  I think everyone should do what is right for them, even if I don't agree with it.  I love my baby's cheeks.

  

That's it.  That's me in a nutshell.  Thanks for the inspiration, Janie!