Happy Mother’s Day, Petri Dish
That’s what Mommy calls you, little peach…a Petri dish. Mommy has gone through two colds in the past month and you have been sniffling , coughing, and sneezing for longer. We are thankful it has been six months before you’ve succumbed to the day care evils of rampant viruses, but now you’ve got one. You sniffle and sneeze often, but thankfully it hasn’t kept you up too much at night…..yet.
Two weekends ago our whole family competed in the Queen Anne Street Scramble. A street scramble goes like this……you register and get a map to study and plan your route, then you race for 90 minutes going to as many checkpoints as you can to answer the questions, then you race back and the organizers tally your scores. It is like an urban treasure hunt….I love ’em and have done several of them over the years in Seattle. Below is a shot of us scrambling….I’m pushing you in the B.O.B. with the map in view and Mommy and Clementine are leading the way to our next checkpoint. There is one in Ballard coming up…..I’ve signed up already.
Cousin Jonathan came to visit last Sunday. He is in the area for an Army dental class at the base closeby. Many people say Jon and I look a lot alike.
What are you doing lately? You are still very vocal…..sending out “Ba ba ba” often just randomly, then a squeal and a shriek, followed by low-pitched grunts of varying volumes and tones. Last night we went to E and T’s house, so we had to put you to bed in their pack and play. You talked for 30 minutes before you finally went to sleep. E and Mommy’s friends asked, “Is she ok? Do you need to go in there?” But Mommy stayed away, knowing that you were just being you and talking before you went to sleep. We can tell easily when you are distressed or uncomfortable, which isn’t too often. Most of the time you are chatty and simply making friendly noise.
You have been eating more solid food lately, too. You LOVE creamed carrots…the Gerber first foods kind that has just one food. Mommy tried to feed you turkey and this is the face you gave her…
So we learned to mix some turkey in to peaches, carrots, squash, and you couldn’t tell the difference. Mommy was having some yogurt to herself and you reached out showing her you wanted to sample it. She gave you a taste and you loved it, so she gave you a couple more spoonfuls. When it was clear you were capable of eating the entire container, Mommy turned out toward the window and finished the yogurt herself. We won’t be able to pull of that trick very much longer. Pretty soon you’ll have the ability to project and remember for longer than a couple of seconds. That’s when we’ll have to learn a new parenting trick.
Your sleeping habits have improved significantly since we’ve unswaddled you. Now when we set you in bed, you just have your pjs and a sleepsack on, but in the crib with you is an army of binkies placed like a halo around your head. When you turn to any side, you have a pacifier within your grasp that you can help yourself to. And you do help yourself to them. You like to have one in your mouth and cuddle up with two others in your hands. Last night I saw you take out a binky with your left hand and replace it with a binky from the right…all with your eyes closed!
Today was Mothers Day; a very special day because it was Mommy’s FIRST official Mother’s Day. Our gift to Mommy was a hand-made multi-colored clay mug. She joked often that she would like an ashtray, macrome owl, or mug with “World’s Greatest Mom” on it because that was the kitschy items that she would give Nana. So I made a mug while you were asleep and Mommy was taking a nap. I’m very proud of it sitting on the ledge of honor right now.
You are asleep in your crib right now, asleep with your collection of binkys that keep you company every night. It is time for Mommy and I to get to bed also.
Love, Daddy