Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
I care, you care
Munch goes to daycare...
It's the end of an era. After coming back from DC, I realized it's just too difficult, with the new responsibilities of my job, to keep Munch at home with me. I was trying to hold off and make it through election day with the thought that things would be a little less intense, but since it does not look like that will be the case, a permanent arrangement had to be made.
I haven't felt this guilty since the throes of the breastfeeding debacle. But many of the steps are the same: I tried for as long as I could, I did what I thought was best, I know that she'll be getting more of what she needs elsewhere, and our time together will have that much more quality to it. And in this case, I hope it's just a short term solution and I can bring her back home days again eventually.
We spent yesterday choosing between a Montessori system and Smartie's day care center at work. The work center won, as they both will add about the same amount to his drive (the center isn't located in the office), they both have the same basic care plans, but the work center has a 4:1 baby to tender ratio, whereas the Montessori only had 3 people watching 16 infants. I think down the line the Montessori may be better once she's older and can be moved up to the toddler level, but they don't do that until 16 months, and I think she'd be bored the first 5 months. Plus, I'm hoping this may be a 6 month stop gap, so I'm more interested in what works best now. Although the work center also would keep her in the with babies, I assume that having more one on one time will make up for it.
(And, honestly, every kid we saw at the Montessori had an openly runny nose. I know it happens, but I don't want to send her straight into the plague...)
Anyway, I'm trying to make it through the week by doing most of my work in naptime periods of frantic activity, followed by 4 or 5 hours of working at night when Smartie is home to watch her. And I'm trying to find a Halloween costume for Munch, since I'm enormously behind on that, too.
But oh, how I will miss this face...
It's the end of an era. After coming back from DC, I realized it's just too difficult, with the new responsibilities of my job, to keep Munch at home with me. I was trying to hold off and make it through election day with the thought that things would be a little less intense, but since it does not look like that will be the case, a permanent arrangement had to be made.
I haven't felt this guilty since the throes of the breastfeeding debacle. But many of the steps are the same: I tried for as long as I could, I did what I thought was best, I know that she'll be getting more of what she needs elsewhere, and our time together will have that much more quality to it. And in this case, I hope it's just a short term solution and I can bring her back home days again eventually.
We spent yesterday choosing between a Montessori system and Smartie's day care center at work. The work center won, as they both will add about the same amount to his drive (the center isn't located in the office), they both have the same basic care plans, but the work center has a 4:1 baby to tender ratio, whereas the Montessori only had 3 people watching 16 infants. I think down the line the Montessori may be better once she's older and can be moved up to the toddler level, but they don't do that until 16 months, and I think she'd be bored the first 5 months. Plus, I'm hoping this may be a 6 month stop gap, so I'm more interested in what works best now. Although the work center also would keep her in the with babies, I assume that having more one on one time will make up for it.
(And, honestly, every kid we saw at the Montessori had an openly runny nose. I know it happens, but I don't want to send her straight into the plague...)
Anyway, I'm trying to make it through the week by doing most of my work in naptime periods of frantic activity, followed by 4 or 5 hours of working at night when Smartie is home to watch her. And I'm trying to find a Halloween costume for Munch, since I'm enormously behind on that, too.
But oh, how I will miss this face...
Monday, October 27, 2008
A (sort of) Vi-DEO
A friend asked to use a pic of Munch in a video for a tribute to Molly Ivins. The result is below. Munch is pretty early in and so very tiny!
Crunch time
Back from DC, and working most of the weekend anyway. 8 days to election....
I always thought it was a cliche to say how quickly a child grows. That was before I left town for three days and when I returned, Munch had a new tooth coming through. It's her last top front, which means both of her tops should e in and pretty visible in a week or so.
I was told that her new favorite game was to be walked around the house with her hands held, so I tried it Saturday morning. As a whim I decided to try it with just one hand, and she tottered around the living room and dining room, hardly holding on. If you let go of that hand she goes straight down, but considering she just started walking around holding two hands not that long ago, I think we're getting pretty close to independent movement. The down side is she hates socks, and it's cold, and I can't keep her in them. I think the lack of grip bothers her.
We bought her a new car seat this weekend, although we haven't installed it yet. She's so scrunched in her old seat that she can't extend her legs all of the way because they hit the seat. It says you aren't supposed to use the convertible seat until they are one year old, but I'm not sure if that counts if the baby is already so long she's in 18-24 month clothes. She's ok weight-wise for it, too, but we're thinking of waiting until 11 months as a compromise.
However, I guess one isn't that far off. This weekend we got bombarded with catalogs reminding us to begin planning her birthday party. Thanks for selling our address, Babies R US baby shower registry...
There is some definite planning to do, however. We've decided to retire "Munchie" at 12 months since she's too big to be a Munchkin, and she eats like a horse instead of her old nibbling. So - only a few more weeks to come up with a new handle. Any suggestions?
I always thought it was a cliche to say how quickly a child grows. That was before I left town for three days and when I returned, Munch had a new tooth coming through. It's her last top front, which means both of her tops should e in and pretty visible in a week or so.
I was told that her new favorite game was to be walked around the house with her hands held, so I tried it Saturday morning. As a whim I decided to try it with just one hand, and she tottered around the living room and dining room, hardly holding on. If you let go of that hand she goes straight down, but considering she just started walking around holding two hands not that long ago, I think we're getting pretty close to independent movement. The down side is she hates socks, and it's cold, and I can't keep her in them. I think the lack of grip bothers her.
We bought her a new car seat this weekend, although we haven't installed it yet. She's so scrunched in her old seat that she can't extend her legs all of the way because they hit the seat. It says you aren't supposed to use the convertible seat until they are one year old, but I'm not sure if that counts if the baby is already so long she's in 18-24 month clothes. She's ok weight-wise for it, too, but we're thinking of waiting until 11 months as a compromise.
However, I guess one isn't that far off. This weekend we got bombarded with catalogs reminding us to begin planning her birthday party. Thanks for selling our address, Babies R US baby shower registry...
There is some definite planning to do, however. We've decided to retire "Munchie" at 12 months since she's too big to be a Munchkin, and she eats like a horse instead of her old nibbling. So - only a few more weeks to come up with a new handle. Any suggestions?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
"You don't really expect me to wear this, do you?"
Enjoy -- I'm leaving for DC early tomorrow, and I don't know if Smartie will post while I'm gone.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Still kind of sick
so enjoy a pic I got from my aunt today, which exemplifies how I feel right now....
Just wondering
When will this political crap be over?
Just wondering
When will this political crap be over?
Friday, October 10, 2008
Not Again!
Seriously -- any advice? It's getting cold, and I can't keep my eyes on her constantly... Or do I have to just keep her in onesies until she's 10? Or maybe I should send her to a beach on the Riviera?
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Quick Update
Munch now stands alone. She doesn't really believe she can do it, so she has to be tricked into it. You wait until she is standing and holding on to something, and then you start clapping. She looks puzzled, then starts clapping back, letting go of whatever she is holding onto. As long as you keep clapping, she'll keep standing, clapping in return. The second you stop she stops, looks at her hands, then falls down. Oddly enough, she also seems to have discovered her first word -- "yay!" Unfortunately, she can only say it in the same high pitched squeal in which her daddy and I say it to her.
She's also started to eat huge amounts of real food, and her gagging seems to be exclusively happening when she is too full. Sunday she ate eggs with cheese, oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam and puff and just kept going. The downside is she's dropping formula bottles left and right, so I'm thinking about taking her in for a weight check. She's also got some nasty clay-like poop lately, so she's on an ounce of prune juice, which she loves. I'm starting to think the baby has no tastebuds.
She also likes toes...
She's also started to eat huge amounts of real food, and her gagging seems to be exclusively happening when she is too full. Sunday she ate eggs with cheese, oatmeal, toast with strawberry jam and puff and just kept going. The downside is she's dropping formula bottles left and right, so I'm thinking about taking her in for a weight check. She's also got some nasty clay-like poop lately, so she's on an ounce of prune juice, which she loves. I'm starting to think the baby has no tastebuds.
She also likes toes...
Monday, October 06, 2008
Friday, October 03, 2008
A Quickie
I know I've been uncommunicative. I will explain it all when I have time...likely in about 32 days.
For now, some pics. She's starting to become less baby and more person.
For now, some pics. She's starting to become less baby and more person.
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