Pictures from our trip

So glad to be home! Vi did quite well in the car - slept for 2.5 of 5 hour ride, then screamed for 45 minutes on the way there. On the way home, slept for 2.5 of 3 hour ride





Kewpie doll in her new dress before church at Grandma's.




The family in front of Lake Michigan in Pentwater.





Vi in the 1980's stroller my mom bought for her in front of Lake Huron at Bay View Park. (Hey we went to both coasts).

Question

Serious Question: DO you think that someone that drinks two mixed drinks a day, every day, with two shots in each one, is an alcoholic? I think I do.

Sleep is elusive

This week has been a bad sleeping week for Vi. We are up north visiting my mother and Vi is sleeping in the pack n play. For two nights she woke up screaming at 4:30 a.m., ate, and slept on my mom until 7:00 a.m. My mom thankfully, let me go back to sleep until 8:00. She hates the pack n play. I tried moving the matress to the down position for more support which she also hates.

Last night was the worst nigth I have ever had since she was born. I fed her and rocked her to sleep and at 9:45 p.m. put her down in the pack n play. She immediately woke up, got on her hands and knees and started screaming. I would have let her cry for five or so minutes, but my mother couldn't stand it and picked her up. I tried to settle her down two more times and she would have none of it. I ended up putting her in bed with me and I would try to move her in the pack n play periodically through the night with no success. Thus, she slept with me all night and mama woke up constantly throughout the night to check on her.

When I woke up I felt like such garbage. She was in a super duper mood. When I visit her daddy in Boston for three weeks, she was going to sleep in the pack n play. It obviously isn't going to work. Any suggestions?

My husband keeps blaming it on her teething. She has all four front teeth finally coming in and has been terribly whiny.

Little Bug

This was before the crabbiness started.

Update on Vi's delay

So when the health department lady came back, she really didn't have a whole lot to offer. The rcommendation was that since Vi is covered under private insurance, we should ask for a consult to a physical therapist. So I called physical therapy through the same system her ped is in. The only place that would take a child her age is 30 minutes away, in the town where I work. Thus, I would have to drive 20 min to were we live, pick up Vi at daycare, drive 30 min to this place and then drive 20 minutes home. I don't see it happening at all. I am going to look for a place closer.

The good news as I've said before is that Vi cognitively is ahead - around 12 months age and verbally a bit ahead as well. Her gross motor skills are still behind. She can sit up welland rocks back and forth constantly on all fours. However, she can't pull up, crawl, go from laying to sitting and back, stand unsupported and still exhibits some head lag. I have seen progress, but I would like to see more.

I am not as freaked out and teary as I used to be about it. I keep working with her like crazy to try and make her do things physically. Now I feel like she can catch up.

Hello from NY, NY

So I'm in NYC for work. I didn't want to go initially because I don't like flying and I didn't want to leave P and the V. I left yesterday afternoon and will be going back tomorrow. This evening I found an Asian restaurant with a *Gluten-Free* Menu and had Gluten Free Spring Roll & Pad Thai! I was proud of myself for going and finding it and eating by myself. After that, I walked another 13 or so blocks to buy P some cupcakes at a special bakery.

Some general observations about NYC: (I'm actually on the Upper East Side of Manhattan)

- More people probably live on this block that are in the entire town that grew up in.
- When I was waiting for a meeting to start, a group of admins sounded exactly like Melanie Griffith's character in "Working Girl". I love the accent!
- There is a lot of food everywhere - hot dog carts on every corner, fresh donuts, fruit carts, and hot pretzels.
- Tons of the little old Jewish ladies with the perfect makeup, tons of gold jewelry and perfectly coifed hair.
-is every car a cab, Mercedes or BMW?
-Traffic is bad all the time constantly - truly the "city that never sleeps".
-Rode over the bridge in the opening credits of Taxi while riding in a Taxi.
-I have a better understanding of what life was like during 9/11 for NY. I walked past a fire station and tourists were taking pictures of the firemen and the memorial.

Happy Mother's Day!

I am celebrating my first mother's day. I just can't believe it. I never thought I would have the priviledge of being a mother. P made things extra special today, even though I wanted to keep things low key.

Vi let me sleep from 9:30 - 6:30! I can't complain. I then had a leisurely couple of hours with her before P got up and I went to the gym for an hour or so to work out. Then I hung out and read the Sunday paper ( a longtime ritual for us - however, it's so depressing lately), and the baby napped. We took a shower (Shhh), and then P made Filet Mignon wrapped with Bacon. It was splendid. THen we all went to the library, and then to Target so I could get a new camera. We couldn't find one there, so we cam ehome and P ordered one. We also stopped at Dairy Queen (I love Dairy Queen) We played with Vi. I have to admit, I still did a bit of laundry and dishes, and made some food for a party tomorrow but P really helped out. The weather was fairly crummy here - overcast and cool (around 56).

It is also Vi's 9 month birthday! I forgot to schedule her 9 month pictures and need to do that very soon!

Here is a picture from today. She would not smile for me at all.

8 and 3/4 months

Yes this outfit is a 12 month and almost too small. That is what happens when you are 98% for height!

(mind you, mom and dad are 5'6 and 5'7).

Goodies to win

http://www.5minutesformom.com/6032/mothers-day-giveaway-2009/

Win a Toshiba Laptop! The K & L keys are a bit wonky on mine, so of course, I entered!