Monday, March 25, 2013

the hardest thing...

My darling, darling baby.  5 days ago you woke up at 6:30 and I blearily carried you out into the living room, plunked down on the couch, and latched you onto my full breast.  I remember you fussing a bit, and then settling down to business, just as you had approximately every 3 hours since the day you were born, 9 months ago.  If I had known it was going to be the last time, I would have paid more attention.  I would have been smelling your hair, and stroking your cheek, and savoring every second of what is beyond a doubt the most intense, emotional, beautiful relationship I have ever known: the one between a nursing pair.  But I didn't know.  Would never have guessed.  So I can't remember whether your eyes were open, or shut.  I can't remember if you were patting my chest, or pulling my hair.  I don't. remember.

Since then I have tried every thing I can think of...ridiculous, far fetched, long shots in the dark.  I'm not ready for you to be done.  You're supposed to be my baby still, and this?  this feels like you're breaking up with me.  I'm like a love-sick 15 year old...all I do is cry and eat way too much ice-cream.
I cried when your big sister weaned herself.  at twice your age.  gradually, over the course of 2 entire months.  But you?  You came at me out of nowhere with this. blindsided me. as if someone who previously had done nothing but kiss me suddenly and without warning punched me in the gut, knocking all the wind out of my body and leaving me gasping for breath, wondering what the hell just happened.  I told your papa, it feels like someone died.

Maybe I could start feeling better if I gave up.  Said, OK, I guess she's done, and went with that.  I could acclimate to the new normal.  But I don't really believe that's what you want.  So I'm struggling here, baby.  Struggling, day after day (and maybe 5 days doesn't seem so long, to you.  but its been en eternity already) to believe that you are coming back to me.  To keep offering, even when you keep biting.  To keep pumping, even when you are crying for me to hold you instead and Althea is tearing apart the kitchen.  To keep hope alive.  I'm not ready to give it up quite yet.  But its the hardest thing.


Sunday, February 26, 2012

basically, my kid never shuts up.

food/ eating words:
queso   cheese
pizza
pasta
tenedor
cuchara
cuchillo
plato
vaso
taza
frutas
rico
fresas  strawberries
arandanos  blueberries
manzana  apple
naranja
toronja
banana
tomates
pollo
arroz
frijoles
avena
bunnies
galletas  crackers
"cacayoni" (macaroni)
yogur
helado
mango
higo
vitamina
trail mix
arvejas
comer
acabas  all gone
silla   chair
mesa
sucio  dirty
limpia
lava  wash
sed  thirsty
hambre  hungry
refrigerador
piso
mojado
babero  bib
cocina  kitchen

body parts:

cabeza   head
ojos  eyes
nariz  nose
orejas
cejas
lengua
boca
dientes
mejillas
barba
barbilla
cuello
panza
pecho
espalda
manos  hands
dedos
un~as
piernas
pies  foot
pelo hair
cabeza head

animals:
gato  kitty
perro  doggy
pez  fish
conejo
raton
vaca
caballo
cabra  goat
oveja
chancho  piggie
pato
pajaro
buho
cuervo
gallina
pollito
leon
tigre
puma
girafa
tortuga
foca
ballena
delfin
pulpo
tiburon
pinguino
loro
mariquita
rana
morsa

outdoor words:
parque  park
afuera  outside
frio   cold
arbol
calle
carro
truck
bus
carrito
tobogan
escalera
columpio  swings
sol
luna
estrellas

action words:
arriba  up
abajo  down
corre
gateando
bailar
dibujar
pintar
leer  read

toys:
baby
biberon
puzzles
bloques
pinturas
tiza
musica
libros  books
tren
manta  blanket
canasta
comidas
cortar
juguetes toys

clothes:
quitar  off
poner
camisa
pantalones
calcetines  sock
zapatos   shoes
botas
babylegs (HA)
sueter
chamarra
gorra  hat
bufanda
guantes  mittens
gafas  glasses
lentes
pan~alito  diaper

other:
ban~o
burbujas
cuidado
da vuelta
jump
198 words that i can think of off the top of my head.

songs:
twinkle twinkle
rock a bye
are you sleeping
row row row your boat
skip to my lou
abcs

Sunday, December 11, 2011

so. many. words.

just for fun, a list of all the words Althea said to me this morning, between 5:30 and 9:30 am.

pizza
I have it
huevo
helado
yogur
silla
hambre
pulpo
caja
outside
push
dientes
chancho
vaca
ombligo
book
rana
thea
fen
lulu
shhhhhh
cansada
ba~no
giggle
gato
window
suave
thank you
oyes
ayuda
baby
se acabo'
button
banano
su'eter
calcetin
estrellas
luna
bye-bye
cafe
buho
eyes
fish
avena
gorra
no
si
ok
ojos
zip
gracias
manta
binkie
abre
leche
mas
more
sucio
bloques
i see you
agua
crema
piso
all gone
sala
julie
cama
phone
arriba
peek a boo

70.  in about 4 hours.  blabber mouth.

Friday, July 29, 2011

this blog is your baby book.

sorry sweetie, but this is it.
so i wanted to record that you took your first steps today.  one two three, from holding onto me you let go and walked right over to your little train table.
3 days shy of your first birthday.  so when later, i can't remember when, i will have this record of it.  providing the internet still exists.
congrats peanut.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

communication!

Althea can sign the following things:
more
milk
all done
water

but the one she loves the most is 'milk'.  and she does NOT mean in a sippy cup, just so we are clear.  she means 'get your boobies out mama, get them out'.  And she does it in the most sincere way, looking into my eyes, squeezing her little fist oh-so-deliberately, like 'look at me, i can tell you what i want.  i want your boobies.'.
and i want to teach her that communicating is good, and that signing (and talking) are a way to tell others what you want, without shrieking.
however.
by my estimate, Althea signed 'milk' to me AT LEAST 50 times today.  she is drunk with the power of the milk sign.  "you mean, anytime i squeeze my little fist, mama will let me nurse?!?!?!  FAN.TAS.TIC!"
help me.  help my poor, sad, nipples.  why did I think this was a good idea?  we probably should not have taught her to communicate.    

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Dear boobs,

Dear boobs,
I know you put up with a lot.  You are the answer to every. single. problem. that our darling baby has.  fall and bump her head?  boobs!  a little sleepy? boobs!  not feeling so good? boobs!  peckish?  boobs!  teething?  boobs, boobs, boobs. you're constantly being manhandled, exposed, groped, mauled, pinched, and occasionally bit.  You deserve a fucking break.  Unfortunately, there is not one in sight.  However, please know that you are loved, so very very much, by the baby.  also by my husband, who loves me with 'after children boobs' (thank you lindsay for that little gem).  and I appreciate the hard hard work you do, and all the bottles I don't have to make and wash because of you.  You rock, boobs.  
<3,  Mama

Sunday, June 12, 2011

title?

i'm anxious.  and nervous.  and its making me crabby.

i'm going back to work tomorrow.  TOMORROW.  this has suddenly ceased being hypothetical.  its f#$%ing TOMORROW.  I have to set an alarm.  Get up.  Get dressed in some kind of respectable, professional outfit, and get me ass out the door at 7:00 in the morning.  Oh yeah, and leave my adorable, precious, amazing baby with someone else.  Every day.  for the next 7 weeks.  And then for the school year (4 days only).

Someone remind me why this seemed like a good idea?

Well, I'm somewhat bored (note:  i am probably a bad mother for saying this out loud.  aren't good mothers supposed to be endlessly enthralled and entertained by their babies?)  I spend too much time surfing the internet.  The baby's sometimes incessant screechy pteradactyl noises get old fast.  They wear on my nerves like...well, like screechy pteradactyl noises.
I spent 2 years and many thousands of dollars getting qualified to teach.  If I go back to work I will have an excuse to slack off on laundry.  and sweeping.  Although actually then I will just live in filth, since probably Mr. 3rd Year Clinical Rotations isn't going to have any extra time to pick up the slack.  So maybe that isn't a good thing.
I feel like I'm losing my membership card to the stay at home mommy club.  which I liked.  unlike change.  I dislike change.  it makes me uncomfortable.  i probably should have just had another baby.  that would have cut down on the boredom and excessive internet surfing.  although not the dinosaur noises.