Activities

Growing up in a small town in the 70’s and early 80’s there were not the number of organized children’s activities that there are now. In the spring and early summer we played girls’ softball in a community league. In grade school and junior high we played basketball in the fall and winter. I belonged to the community Girl’s Club (back when the Boys Club and Girls Club were separate), where I did ceramics, roller skating, pool, crafts, and cross country skiing. I finally got to play an instrument (clarinet –yick) in junior high. My family did a lot of hiking, biking, swimming in the summer, tons of roller skating, and cross country skiing. My older sister was super athletic. She got to do swimming for a year, then ice skating for a year (they didn’t have anything for the younger kids like they do now), guitar. She mostly did softball and basketball. I didn’t play these sports in high school because I wasn’t good enough to make the team. The bad thing about not being that great is that I did a lot of bench sitting. I wish they would have had things like soccer, volleyball and dance and karate because I would have really liked those. We had a small dance studio in town but it was super expensive, so I never got to go. There was no co-ed soccer.

I put V into a young child’s class of gymnastics back in June. She loves it! It’s 45 minutes once a week split up into balance beam, tumbling, bar work, trampoline, and free play. Is she good at it? I don’t know and I don’t care. I’d love for her to be good enough to continue. It’s so amazing to watch the other girls there and see the flexibility and strength. She took dance for 8 weeks and loved that even more. If I could find a time that worked for us, I would have her in both. I think it’s so great that she gets exercise, is gaining confidence, learning to take turns, and having fun. I also would like to start her in Piano when she is four.

Plus she is so darn cute in the leotard and dance dress.

Newsflash!

Here’s the scoop.

I’m pregnant.
Yes it happened the old fashioned way.
I found out September 11th and was AGAIN in total shock that I could be fertile. AGAIN.
I’m currently 15 weeks.
I was in some sort of funk about it (every though I am happy and blessed) for a month. I blame hormones, nausea, and fatigue.
The nausea was much worse with this one than with the first one. OMG. Actually been having to use some Zofran.
The breast pain is worse with this one than with the first one.
Biking at 7 weeks in a national park when you are exhausted is not recommended.
I try to tell V that there “is a baby in Momma’s belly” and she says there is a “baby in HER belly”. Named Ainsley.
Being four years older than last time and late 30’s really makes me tired and pregnant.
I hope the medical establishment is totally happy they have me freaked out about “advance maternal age”.
Didn’t want to say anything until I am sure things are going well. I was counseled early on about a high risk of miscarriage.
It’s so weird that I am pregnant. AGAIN. I had a 5% chance of conceiving on my own 8 years ago.
This time AGAIN I was on regular iron and I had dropped five pounds (PCOS) after my jaw surgery. Think those two things knocked the old egg right out me.

1st Haircut

Victoria’s hair was looking even worse than usual. I understand that is negative, but she does indeed have some really kooky hair. The front is untouched, sparse, and short. The back is long and straggly, thin, frizzy, different lengths. We were out by the mall for her Pediatric GI appointment (more on that later), and afterwards I took her to play place in the mall. We passed by a Regis on the way out with no customers. We went in and I asked for a haircut. We got a friendly girl named Amber. She said, “Ma’am, there really isn’t anything to cut here.” I agreed, but she conservatively trimmed the back so it was all one length and it did look better. V never moved a muscle or said a word. It cost $11. Afterwards she told me, “I got my hair cut”.

I’ve tried to make her hair less flyaway and crazy. I’ve tried baby gels, leave-in conditioners, etc. It works for a few hours after the bath and then done. We do carry the AXIN2 gene in my family that causes thin hair. I think V may have it.

1st haircut at 3.3 years. Next one will probably be another 3 years. I got choked up a bit when I saw how big my baby is.