http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:36:11 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 So far, in the last two days, Katie and the following caregivers have fallen asleep together: Grandpa S Grandma S Daddy She must make people conk out or something. Mad skillz, yo! http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog/index.php?p=7293 Today is Katie’s 6 week birthday! Woo! We drove out to Arizona on Friday and Katie was amazing – especially considering that the drive took over 15 hours. She slept most of the time, and we stopped every few hours to give her some cuddles and let her eat/change her; we got to my in-laws after 1am and she slept pretty well that night, too. I was relieved, because when we told people we were driving out here with her and the dogs they invariably said encouraging things like, “You’re crazy!” and “Good luck!” Yesterday we used the big jet tub to give her her first bath in a REAL tub (as compared to an infant tub). It was such a rewarding experience for me; sitting in the warm water with her floating calmly and being extraordinarily peaceful. I want one of those tubs for myself! Tonight Grandma S comes back from her bridge tourney and gets to meet the wee bean, yay! http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog/index.php?p=7292 Katie has been on drugs since Friday, and it makes me feel guilty. Over the past 2-3 weeks, the sheer volume that she’s been spitting up after feedings has increased – and it comes back up almost automatically, without effort. So, it was sort of stupid on my part that it took me three days of her wailing in pain after feeding last week to realize that, duh, maybe she has reflux and it’s affecting her esophagus. There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing your child screw their face up in agony and have nothing calm her down; after I ruled out gas and overtiredness, I dragged her little infant self to the pediatrician’s and left with a prescription for ranitadine (the same thing mommy used to take before she stopped in your honor!). The funny thing about the medication is that it’s a peppermint-flavored liquid and she doesn’t quite know what to make of it when I give it to her, so now she screws up her face in … not disgust, but certainly not in pleasure. I’m hoping to find more natural ways to deal with her reflux (that is, figuring out how to make the amount of spit-up less to begin with) so we can discontinue the meds, but until then, mm! Minty! http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog/index.php?p=7291 I love the Moby wrap way more than I thought I would. It’s SO EASY to tie! And Katie really can conk out against me on it. (Of course, I still can’t bend down to get stuff off the floor easily, but not having to use any arms to carry her around is such a bonus!) So, now I own two babywearing apparatuses: a KangarooKorner fleece pouch and a Moby wrap. :D http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog/index.php?p=7290 When Brandon tried to open the living room blinds last Sunday, the drywall they were bolted in to gave way and they fell off, leaving most of our house visible from outside. So, he bought some wood to frame the window with, and started working on it tonight. At 7:15 I imd Patti that he was using a power saw to cut the wood. He did this for 20 minutes; since then, he’s been pounding nails indoors (and Katie and I are watching TV in the same room, as an indication of noise level). At 8:30 the sheriff showed up at the door because Ron and Mary Anne complained. About the saw. At 7:15. The sheriff said we were doing nothing wrong but that he had to respond to the complaint. Fuckers. http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog/index.php?p=7289 Katie turned one month old yesterday, and at a parenting group it occurred to me that my focus has changed an amazing amount over the past month. Not only has Katie made me feel vastly more patient in general – when “catastrophic” things happen, like poop leaking everywhere or Katie refusing to sleep for hours at night, I am generally chill and never blame the beeb – but I also notice that I can ignore my own needs for hours and hours, just because she demands it of me. For example, I was sick with a migraine and cold but managed to put all my discomfort entirely to the wayside to help her out (especially when she launched into an insane crying jag a couple days ago in the midst of said migraine). Also, small events thrill me – her being smiley on the playmat, or her first bottle and watching Brandon feed her, or her weight gain: 10/5: 6lb 1oz 10/13: 6lb 7oz 10/20: 7lb 7oz 10/27: 8lb 4oz 11/03: 8lb 11oz Our beeb is spectacular and the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog/index.php?p=7287 Katie and I walked down the street to the fire station that is our voting location. No one was ahead of us in line, which was awesome, and people were excited about a wee one being brought along. She started fussing while I was using the electronic voting machine so I pulled her out of the stroller and held her next to me while I voted – I can only assume that she wanted to help do my civic duty and make sure that she can marry whoever she wants. She even got a “I voted!” sticker, which is inside her carseat now. :D http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog/index.php?p=7288 Imitrex is my savior when I have crazy migraines… which have started up again now that I’m not pregnant. (I used to take a prophylactic medication daily that’s not compatible with pregnancy; otherwise I’d get a migraine virtually daily.) So, after doing research on imitrex’s compatibility with breastfeeding, I just gave myself the first shot in over 10 months. I forgot that it’s a vasoconstrictor and now both of my breasts are painfully tingling. Fun! http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog/index.php?p=7286 What is/was your beeb’s preferred type of pacifier? I have a Gumpdrop, Soothie, MAM, and Playtex Ortho, for the record. http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog/index.php?p=7285 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImagiNation_Network http://innrevival.googlepages.com/ My sister and I were sort of addicted to TSN. That’s how I got my username AlisonBee (later to become alibee) and also how I met Dan and Mark, who I am still friends with. SO WEIRD! http://thesecretpage.binary-girl.com/blog/index.php?p=7284