Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Peanut's Post: Ghost Mom and the Single Dad
You may remember a time when I was really into Mommy. For whatever reason, Daddy just didn't exist to me.
I know she's around, but holy cow does she stare at those books all day long!! I'm pretty sick of it. Anyway, with most of her focus on "passing" these days (whatever that means), Daddy and I spend a lot of time together, which I've really enjoyed. When he walks by, I drop what I'm doing and crawl over to him. I reach up and moan until he picks me up. Daddy says it's great at home, but not so great when he's dropping me off at daycare.
In case I slip back into my "obsessed with Mommy" phase, I thought I'd document some of our Daddy-daughter activities. A typical day might look like this....
Daddy will get me up in the morning. Usually I'm in my favorite sleeping position....on my knees with my butt in the air, blanket tossed aside. I don't know what it is about this position...I guess it's just super comfy. Don't knock it 'till you've tried it.
After breakfast and some crawling around, he likes to put me in the backpack and take me on walks. But sometimes I just fall asleep.
Sometimes we'll do random projects around the house. Apparently it's important to "baby proof," but I cry when I hear the sound of the drill.
We eat some lunch together. He tells me I'm a mess. I put my hand on his shoulder, point my baby finger, and say, "Ad bahdvheal dafma," which loosely translated means, "No I'm not, I'm a baby." He'll get it one day.
I get worn out faster than he does, so he'll put me down for a nap. I'll, of course, work myself into my favorite sleeping position.
After some rest and a bottle, it's time to play. Sometimes, we go to the pool.
My bathing suit is a little small, but the bottom still fits. So on this day, I went topless. But Daddy says "we can't have that" so he's going to buy me a new suit.
Towards the end of the day, Daddy gives me a bath. I like to watch him fill the tub as I throw all of my bath toys on the floor.
Then I get my last bottle for the day, and lately I get some yucky medicine too (which sometimes winds up on Daddy's shirt). If it's been an especially exciting day, I'll fall asleep on Daddy's shoulder, although usually I squirm until he puts me down.
Well I was really glad to have Daddy at the doctor a few weeks ago when I got my shots. He makes a nice pillow, which made me feel better....
And Mommy's been doing a lot of this lately....
I know she's around, but holy cow does she stare at those books all day long!! I'm pretty sick of it. Anyway, with most of her focus on "passing" these days (whatever that means), Daddy and I spend a lot of time together, which I've really enjoyed. When he walks by, I drop what I'm doing and crawl over to him. I reach up and moan until he picks me up. Daddy says it's great at home, but not so great when he's dropping me off at daycare.
In case I slip back into my "obsessed with Mommy" phase, I thought I'd document some of our Daddy-daughter activities. A typical day might look like this....
Daddy will get me up in the morning. Usually I'm in my favorite sleeping position....on my knees with my butt in the air, blanket tossed aside. I don't know what it is about this position...I guess it's just super comfy. Don't knock it 'till you've tried it.
After breakfast and some crawling around, he likes to put me in the backpack and take me on walks. But sometimes I just fall asleep.
Sometimes we'll do random projects around the house. Apparently it's important to "baby proof," but I cry when I hear the sound of the drill.
We eat some lunch together. He tells me I'm a mess. I put my hand on his shoulder, point my baby finger, and say, "Ad bahdvheal dafma," which loosely translated means, "No I'm not, I'm a baby." He'll get it one day.
 |
| "Daddy, how come the stuff on your face doesn't come off in the bath?" |
After some rest and a bottle, it's time to play. Sometimes, we go to the pool.
 |
| "Ok, I'm ready to go to the pool....let's go!" |
 |
| "Will anyone take me to the pool? Anyone?" |
My bathing suit is a little small, but the bottom still fits. So on this day, I went topless. But Daddy says "we can't have that" so he's going to buy me a new suit.
 |
| "Maybe if I get on my tiptoes I can find someone to take me to the pool." |
 |
| "Mommy, so good to see you! Are you coming to the pool too?" |
 |
| "Mommy can't come to the pool with us!" |
Then I get my last bottle for the day, and lately I get some yucky medicine too (which sometimes winds up on Daddy's shirt). If it's been an especially exciting day, I'll fall asleep on Daddy's shoulder, although usually I squirm until he puts me down.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Sophie
My mom's dog Sophie passed away last night. Sophie was a beautiful dog, and she was a good dog. She had a major heart attack/stroke and died in my mom's arms on the front porch last night around 9 p.m.
Sophie was a beautiful golden retriever mix that my mom adopted from the humane society. She really was the sweetest dog, however, her only fault was that she liked to escape and run free through the neighborhood, sometimes miles away. One of these escapades landed Sophie "in trouble." And a few months later 7 little black puppies were born. The puppies were a total surprise (the humane society told my mom that Sophie was fixed - obviously they were wrong) but adorable; they all look like black versions of their mother. My mom donated all but 2 - keeping the only girl (Maggie) and the runt boy (Jordan). Sophie was the best mother. Ever since the puppies were born Sophie would let them eat first, and she would take whatever was left. She never stopped doing that - even nine years later Sophie would still stand back and wait for her "kids" to finish before taking the scraps they left behind. My mom learned to feed Sophie separately in order for her to get any food.
I remember many years ago, taking walks in our neighborhood with my mom and Sophie, and we stopped by a neighbor's house to see her newborn baby boy. This neighbor had also adopted one of Sophie's puppies so they were dog-friendly and all three of us came in. The new mother was sitting on the couch holding her baby and I held Sophie back for a while, until the neighbor said to let her walk free. Sophie walked right up to this mom and baby, and started to sniff the little baby's head. My mom and I were about to jump over and pull Sophie away but the new mom said "it's okay" and then Sophie calmly licked the little baby's head three times. It was so sweet to watch and my mom later told me that Sophie was probably just doing her maternal thing, by replacing the baby's scent with her own in order to ward off predators. Just like she did for her own puppies. Sophie was a sweetheart.
And while the other dogs weren't allowed to roam the house free while my mom was away during the day (because they'd destroy the place) Sophie was allowed to trot around the house, all by herself, untethered. Because she was a good dog.
Yesterday morning Sophie went for a swim in the bayou, and took a nice walk through our neighborhood with my mom, un-leashed, because she was that good. She had a great last day. And this morning she was buried in my mom's yard, next to a Camellia bush that was given to my mom in honor of my Grandpa who died 6 years ago. Sophie loved the yard and it is the perfect place for her.
I woke up this morning with swollen eyes from crying so much last night. I cried when I wrote this post. I felt so sad that I couldn't be there to help my mom, and so sad that neither my sister nor I was close enough to go over and comfort her last night. And the next time I visit my mom's house it will be strange and sad to walk through the door and not be greeted by Sophie. My mom got her just months after she bought her house and Sophie is a part of that house and always will be. She was such a good dog, and she will be terribly missed.
Sophie was a beautiful golden retriever mix that my mom adopted from the humane society. She really was the sweetest dog, however, her only fault was that she liked to escape and run free through the neighborhood, sometimes miles away. One of these escapades landed Sophie "in trouble." And a few months later 7 little black puppies were born. The puppies were a total surprise (the humane society told my mom that Sophie was fixed - obviously they were wrong) but adorable; they all look like black versions of their mother. My mom donated all but 2 - keeping the only girl (Maggie) and the runt boy (Jordan). Sophie was the best mother. Ever since the puppies were born Sophie would let them eat first, and she would take whatever was left. She never stopped doing that - even nine years later Sophie would still stand back and wait for her "kids" to finish before taking the scraps they left behind. My mom learned to feed Sophie separately in order for her to get any food.
I remember many years ago, taking walks in our neighborhood with my mom and Sophie, and we stopped by a neighbor's house to see her newborn baby boy. This neighbor had also adopted one of Sophie's puppies so they were dog-friendly and all three of us came in. The new mother was sitting on the couch holding her baby and I held Sophie back for a while, until the neighbor said to let her walk free. Sophie walked right up to this mom and baby, and started to sniff the little baby's head. My mom and I were about to jump over and pull Sophie away but the new mom said "it's okay" and then Sophie calmly licked the little baby's head three times. It was so sweet to watch and my mom later told me that Sophie was probably just doing her maternal thing, by replacing the baby's scent with her own in order to ward off predators. Just like she did for her own puppies. Sophie was a sweetheart.
And while the other dogs weren't allowed to roam the house free while my mom was away during the day (because they'd destroy the place) Sophie was allowed to trot around the house, all by herself, untethered. Because she was a good dog.
Yesterday morning Sophie went for a swim in the bayou, and took a nice walk through our neighborhood with my mom, un-leashed, because she was that good. She had a great last day. And this morning she was buried in my mom's yard, next to a Camellia bush that was given to my mom in honor of my Grandpa who died 6 years ago. Sophie loved the yard and it is the perfect place for her.
I woke up this morning with swollen eyes from crying so much last night. I cried when I wrote this post. I felt so sad that I couldn't be there to help my mom, and so sad that neither my sister nor I was close enough to go over and comfort her last night. And the next time I visit my mom's house it will be strange and sad to walk through the door and not be greeted by Sophie. My mom got her just months after she bought her house and Sophie is a part of that house and always will be. She was such a good dog, and she will be terribly missed.
 |
| Sophie with one of my mom's rescue puppies (Itty-Bitty) who was eventually "adopted" into the family. |
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
12 Months!!
Our little girl turned 1! It's hard to believe we have a 1-year-old. (It's equally hard to believe we survived the longest year of our life.) We were so excited to celebrate with her a little bit, but we'll celebrate more this weekend. Happy Birthday Leah!!
We've been waiting to get a chocolate chip cookie cake, and we knew now was the time.
We even let Leah get to the cake this time. I think she knew something was a little different when she turned the corner and started going for it.
As a result of the mini sugar rush, here's what we had on our hands about 1/2 an hour after bed time....
7/11/11 - Happy Birthday!
8/11/11 - 1 Month
9/11/11 - 2 Months
10/11/11 - 3 Months
11/11/11 - 4 Months
12/11/11 - 5 Months
1/11/12 - 6 Months
2/11/12 - 7 Months
3/11/12 - 8 Months
4/11/12 - 9 Months
5/11/12 - 10 Months
6/11/12 - 11 Months
***
7/18/12 Editorial Note: Leah had her 12-month checkup on 7/12/12, after this post was originally published. Length: 28.9 inches (44th percentile). Weight: 19 lbs 6.4 oz. (23rd percentile). Also, this was our 200th published blog post! It's fitting that it was Leah's 1-year post.
***
We've been waiting to get a chocolate chip cookie cake, and we knew now was the time.
We even let Leah get to the cake this time. I think she knew something was a little different when she turned the corner and started going for it.
As a result of the mini sugar rush, here's what we had on our hands about 1/2 an hour after bed time....
Yeah, it took a while for her to get to sleep. But, hey...it's her birthday! You gotta bend the rules every now and then. And as you can tell from all the monthy birthday cakes we've had, birthdays are a big deal around here. Happy Birthday little girl! What a wonderful year it's been with you.
Now this post is about a year in the making. Thanks a million to my cousin Renee for the very cool monthly birthday stickers! They inspired us to mark the day each month during Leah's first year. Enjoy the recap....
8/11/11 - 1 Month
9/11/11 - 2 Months
11/11/11 - 4 Months
12/11/11 - 5 Months
1/11/12 - 6 Months
2/11/12 - 7 Months
3/11/12 - 8 Months
5/11/12 - 10 Months
7/11/12 - 12 Months
And in case you're interested in a recap of the birthday cakes.....
Ok, no cake for the actual birthday....
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