Homealot

Memorial Day Madness

2006-05-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

What a day! We braved the blistering heat to have an all day long cookout at my in-law's pond. I did NOT go in the water, (fish biting my toes freaks me out), but Tracy took Isabel in. Sadly, she seemed to hate the pond as much as her mother. It's too bad, too, because she looked really cute in her swimsuit! The day was redeemed for her, however, when she was introduced to watermelon on the rind. It was heaven for my happy eating baby! She sucked down two complete pieces before she was cut off. We got to eat great food, fish, swim in a pond, look at barnyard animals, and get a sunburn. It was the day of Memorial Madness!

Two weeks and counting......

2006-05-24T16:41:00.000-07:00

It's official. I am two weeks away from going back to school! I am very excited, but also really nervous. I haven't been doing homework for YEARS, and I'm not sure that I'm going to be able to get back in the habit quickly. I'm currently signing up for classes, and I'm going to have to take more hours then I had originally thought. This makes me scared that I won't have enough time to really be with my family. I am already hating putting Isabel in daycare, and now I'm afraid that I won't have much night time with her due to homework. I'm sure that I'm just panicking, but I can't help but feel some anxiety about the close coming future. Let's hope that all goes well!

Home alone and.......alone.

2006-05-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

Both Tracy and Isabel are out of town right now. Tracy is at a research conference in North Carolina, and due to the large number of extra rehearsals my choir has called this week, combined with the fact that we cannot seem to locate (or pay for) baby sitters for all these rehearsals, Isabel is at Grandma's. So, I am home alone. ALONE. No little hands grabbing my pants, no husband demanding laundry or errands, no fighting over who's going to change the baby! I AM FINALLY ALONE. I shall go see a movie! I shall go out to eat! I shall sleep till noon! I shall watch endless hours of television! I shall turn up my stereo as loud as possible and dance around the house! Naked!

It sure is quiet around here........... I miss my baby.

Isabel's love affair with cake!

2006-05-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

My daughter has been officially introduced to the world of sugar! First came the icing which was licked so violently off her fingers I believe she took a layer of skin with it. Next came the yellow cake which she ate with wild abandon. It was hysterical to watch; she is not used to heavy amounts of sugar in one setting. Both fists were working together like machines, stuffing as much cake in her mouth as she could stand. It was worth denying her 12 months of sugar just to see her enjoy this one moment so much. Oh yes, and in the midst of all this.....my daughter turned 1!

Isabel's Year Pictures

2006-05-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

One small step for Isabel.....one giant leap for the Kitchel's!

2006-05-08T05:43:00.000-07:00

Isabel officially walked yesterday. I was in the other room frantically trying to put together Isabel's scrapbook for her birthday party. Suddenly I heard shouts from downstairs and the heavy stomping of my husband flying up the stairs. "She walked!" he proclaimed, Isabel sitting proudly on his shoulders. It's true. Our little baby has figured out how to put one foot in front of the other. We kept putting her on one side of the room and making her walk to us, over and over. You would think that the 5 steps she took constituted a marathon the way we were shouting and cheering when she showed off her new skill. It may be a small feat in the scheme of her life, but it sure made for an exciting evening!

Climbing every mountain...(and under them, too!)

2006-05-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

Isabel is getting more and more creative with her maneuvering skills. It used to be fairly safe for me to throw up a gate or two and leave the room for a few minutes. If I do that now, when I return Isabel has taken every book off the shelf, turned the bookcase over, and used it as a ladder to swing from the ceiling fan. Every experienced mother in the world has warned me, "Wait until your baby starts walking! Then they'll be into everything!" This worries me. She's already into everything! (And under everything- like her crib in the picture.) I fully expect that one morning I'll wake up to find she's crawled out of her crib, opened the gate, lowered herself down the stairs, and made some pancakes. All I can do is hope that when that day comes, she'll do the dishes when she's finished.

They like me! They really like me!!

2006-05-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

Auditioning for shows is the seventh layer of hell. It's true. There is a reason that I am not in New York, pounding the pavement like some of my college colleagues. I could not stand to be put through the audition process for a living. The constant scrutiny, the politics, learning a dance on the spot, the cold read, and worst of all~ competing with other people that you've just met and would otherwise generally like. That being said, being IN a show is heaven. If you've never done it, I highly suggest it. There are certain musicals that I've performed in that have been highlights of my life and always will be.

I have been auditioning for the upcoming Paragon show, "Godspell" for the past week. This morning I got that happy phone call from the director telling me I'm in the show!! I made it!! This feeling never gets old. NEVER. No matter how many shows I've done, no matter how many solos I've sung, or leading roles I've received, someone telling you that you made the show; it's always worth the pain of that horrible audition process. I LOVE being in shows. I'm looking forward to learning new songs, making a cast a momentary family, affecting an audience, and that divine invention called a cast party! I'm truly excited!

Paddington Bear

2006-04-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Isabel has a boyfriend. No, Isabel has a BEARfriend. She is madly in love with a huge Paddington Bear that stays in her nursery. She loves to bite his nose, ears, and feet. She talks to him, lays her head down on him, and laughs when she's around the bear. I do believe Isabel has her first crush! He's the perfect date- silent, cuddly, and has no clothes! You can't say Isabel doesn't have taste.

Funky Hair

2006-04-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Isabel is at that wonderful stage where no matter what we do (more like what we CAN'T do) with her hair, it always looks spiky and funky. There is no correcting this, short of buying tubes of hair gel and making my daughter look like a member of the "Grease" cast. So we anxiously await the day when her hair can be braided, ponytailed, or at least brushed. In the spirit of this funky hair phase, I have posted her wildest hair moments- courtesy of bathtime. Enjoy.

Isabel's visitor

2006-04-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

We had some friends come visit us recently, and they have a daughter just a few weeks older then Isabel. The two girls had a ton of fun together- they got along together really well! It was neat to see Isabel react with another baby for an extended period of time. Isabel followed her around like she was the best thing she'd seen in her lifetime! It was reallyfunny.

Grandma helps out....yet again.

2006-04-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Grandma Slack is once again in town giving her daughter and granddaughter a much needed hand. This time it was planting flowers and finishing the half bath. She is such a trooper! She can get done a million things in such a short amount of time. When things pile up, she comes down and they always get done. Isabel also loves these visits from her Grandma. I am proud to show off pictures of my new and improved home!

Easter Memories

2006-04-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

Isabel's first Easter was much more fun then I thought it would be. I didn't think she would have a clue on what to do with the eggs laying around the yard. So untrue! I sometimes forget that my daughter is almost 1, and is capable of more then I sometimes give her credit for. Not only did she pick up every egg she could find, but she mastered the art of putting them in the basket and trying to open them to get the the good stuff inside! (In her case it was money and crackers!) It was really exciting watching her understand the process of Easter. By next year it will be even more of an adventure!

Isabel takes a stand

2006-04-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

The next step on the road to walking has officially arrived. Isabel can now stand on her own. She doesn't always stay up for very long; the longest she's stood is about a minute, but she likes the view. She will smile, clap, and look at us for applause. She leans as if she wants to walk, but she doesn't know how yet. I'm guessing the first steps will come right before her first birthday. It's exciting, but kind of sad, too. Isabel is quickly becoming a toddler instead of a baby. For the first time, she's standing on her own two feet.

Sweet Sweet Relief!

2006-04-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

So the news has FINALLY come down. I found out yesterday that I received an assistantship! What a relief! After months of hellish waiting, the news has turned out to be good. No more will I panic about our finances for next year. No more will I doubt my musicianship. No more will I curse the music department at UK. At last I have a plan for next year! I feel like I have not allowed myself to get excited about the possibility of school until now. I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to go that I never thought about school in detail. Now, all I want to do is run to the college bookstore and buy new pencils and notebooks! Hooray! Sweet sweet relief!

Miles and Isabel

2006-04-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

We finally got to see my sister's new baby this weekend! He is so little! It was so fun to hold a little baby again. Isabel looks so big compared to Miles. She's starting to get that toddler look. Miles was very good about being passed around and he hardly cried at all! I thought that Isabel would be interested in seeing a little baby, but she really could have cared less. I suppose to her he's not much to look at! It's nice that they are only about a year apart- I hope they can be cousins that are close!

Isabel = Animal

2006-03-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

My daughter is basically an animal in many forms. I've decided that she is very rarely human and very often some other mammal. For example:

When she breathes through her mouth instead of her nose, she sticks out her tongue. = Puppy.

When she grabs the pieces of bread I tear for her off her high chair with vigor. = Duck.

When she stuffs all the rice puffs in her mouth at once and almost chokes. = Chipmunk.

When she looks at her mother and smiles. = My beautiful daughter!

Miles has arrived!

2006-03-27T05:08:00.000-08:00

My sister had her baby last night! His name is Miles and he arrived around 7 pm. She had a home birth assisted by a midwife, and everything went smoothly. I am an aunt again! This is my sister's third baby, and I am thrilled that Miles is close in age to Isabel. Hopefully they will be friends and not just cousins. It will be strange to hold a little baby again. Isabel will feel so big! So here's a shout out to my sister and my new nephew, Miles!

Isabel's new best friends

2006-03-24T08:18:00.000-08:00

Isabel's other front tooth is finally coming in. Hooray! Snaggletooth no more! Unfortunately, it's been a very painful and prolonged experience for my daughter. This is the first time I've given her tylenol when she's teething. The other three weren't too bad. This one is a monster! She's cranky, won't sleep, and her nose is all runny. I hope today is the day it breaks through. I'm ready for this agony to end. All she wants for Easter is her two front teeth!

It SEEMED like such a good idea......

2006-03-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

My friend Bonnie has been here for the past few days to visit. It has been great to see her; I don't get to spend a lot of time with her. We decided a couple nights ago to drink some wine and watch movies. (Specifically "Reefer Madness, the musical" which is hysterical!) Instead of pouring out our wine into glasses, we conveniently drank from the bottles. NOT the best idea. A bottle of wine, a glass of rum, a white Russian and yet another glass of rum later, I have become intimate friends with the toilet. INTIMATE friends. I think I am still hung over two days later. Ah, the price of being too old to drink a lot and too stupid to know better!

Better buy some more books!

2006-03-17T05:13:00.000-08:00

I'm just putting this picture up because it's cute. It makes me laugh.

Next stop....Everest!

2006-03-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

Isabel shocked me yesterday. She had been ignoring the stairs quite predictably for months, showing no interest in what lay beyond the steps. So it was completely out of the blue when, yesterday, she crawled right up to them, gave them a good look, and climbed every step right to the top. There was no practicing, no slow pace, and no stopping! What a determined little thing! It's amazing what she learns from day to day. A new era in the Kitchel household has appeared. Time to buy a few more gates!

Rain Rain Go Away!

2006-03-13T17:54:00.000-08:00

I am so ready for spring! It's driving me nuts that it is so warm outside. I hate that the rain is keeping me in the house. There is a great walking path near my house and I am itching to take Isabel for a stroller ride. She LOVES being outside. The sights and sounds work wonders on her. She gazes out of the glass windows in our house and watches the cars and people go by. It will be so much fun when summer comes and she can explore the world beyond the inside of our home!

Suicidal baby

2006-03-12T17:39:00.000-08:00

My daughter has a death wish. She has reached the age where she wants to explore EVERYTHING!! She is no longer satisfied just to sit back and take it all in. She wants to crawl to it, touch it, then eat it. She is pulling books of shelves, going places she shouldn't, and has been eyeing the stairs with a devilish gleam in her eyes. We have to watch her every second. The picture I posted says it all- we are trying to prevent her from being hurt and she is happily trying to kill herself. Life is getting very interesting around here!

Waiting....

2006-03-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

My life is currently on hold. I sit around all day and wait for the phone to ring. Will I get the assistantship? Will I get a job? Will we go thousands of dollars in debt putting me through school if I don't get the assistantship? It goes around and around in my head until I start to go crazy. I've never done well without a plan. For some reason I must know what I'm going to be doing 3 years in advance. Not being sure what I'm going to do in a few months is maddening! I can't sleep, I'm grouchy, and my diet has gone the way of the dodo bird. Whoever said, "patience is a virtue," is a liar. Patience is actually one of Hell's demons who is currently residing in my house. I hope this ends very soon.

Great Day!

2006-03-07T07:49:00.000-08:00

Isabel had a great doctor's appointment today!! She had her 9 month checkup, and after so many appointments where I left feeling depressed, I finally heard the best news! Her ears are completely back to normal! No more fluid, infection, or swelling. I am so happy! Plus, she's getting really big. She was 20 pounds today. No wonder my arms are getting tired! I'm carrying around 20 pounds! All in all, it was a great day.

Snaggletooth Kitchel

2006-03-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

In most respects, I believe my daughter to be an adorable child. She has nice blue eyes, her hair is growing in more and more every day, and her skin in soft and smooth. There is, however, one flaw in my daughter's race to beauty pageant status- she has a snaggletooth. When her bottom teeth came in, they were together and straight as an arrow. We became certain that would happen with all her incoming pearly whites. NOT TRUE! She has one front tooth that is quickly descending it's way into chewing position while the other front tooth is shockingly absent! This leaves my daughter with one tooth hanging down allowing her to look a bit lopsided. My husband and I lovingly named this her "Snaggletooth." I'm sure there's another front tooth in there somewhere and it will arrive any day now, but for the meantime, Isabel's cuteness factor does not apply to her gums!

Conversations with Isabel

2006-03-01T07:18:00.000-08:00

Isabel and I are starting to communicate. We can now have full blown conversations! They typically go something like this;

Me: "Good Morning, Isabel!"

Isabel: "Na!"

Me: "Would you like some yogurt for breakfast?"

Isabel: "Na!"

Me: "Oh dear. Is that another dirty diaper?"

Isabel: "Na!"

Me: "Mama loves you very much! Can you say MAMA?"

Isabel: "Da Da Da Da Da Da!"

End of conversation.

Tee Hee!

2006-02-28T06:20:00.000-08:00

My daughter knows my limits. I have proof! Isabel is aware that I am sick to death of her dirty diapers. When she is on her full dose of medication for her ear infection she will have up to 8 (yes EIGHT) dirty diapers a day. I am living in the land of poo. She has given me a gift, however. For the last two Monday nights, the night when I get to leave the house and go to choir practice, she has exploded. About 10 minutes before I need to leave, she releases her bowels in ways only known to small children and dogs. There is poop all over her pants, shirt, torso, legs, fingers and hair. And who is left to clean up this abomination? Why, not me! I have to leave for choir! It's like she KNOWS I can't handle it anymore and saves it all for daddy. Isabel is a wonderful child.

Home?

2006-02-26T18:25:00.000-08:00

We are back from our trip to Missouri, but instead of being happy, I am confused and depressed. I thought that going to see our old friends and my old students would be closure. I haven't seen these people in nine months, and I had just gotten to the point where I wasn't thinking about them every day. Unfortunately, when we arrived in Missouri, it felt like HOME. Being with our old friends felt wonderful, and seeing my old students only made me miss my job more then before. It didn't help that every where we turned people were asking us to come back. Since then, I've been questioning our move to Kentucky. Did we do the right thing? What I had hoped would be a fun weekend of reminiscing has turned into me questioning our path in life. I truly hope that time will clear up my confusion.

Road Trip!

2006-02-23T05:40:00.000-08:00

We are off to the great state of Missouri today! Tracy and I lived there for 3 years before we came to Lexington, and this is the first time we are going back. It's an 8 hour trip and we are a bit nervous about how Isabel is going to in the car. We plan on making a few stops! Mostly, we are really excited. We made some awesome friends while we were there and we can't wait to see them again. Most of our friends there haven't seen Isabel in about 9 months. They saw her right after she was born, and then we left. She is going to look HUGE to them! We are anxious to get on the road. Goodbye, Kentucky; Hello, Missouri!

It's about time!

2006-02-21T04:54:00.000-08:00

We had the best doctor's appointment yesterday! The doctor looked at Isabel's ears, and to my extreme relief, said these magic words, "They look much better!" It was such a relief after weeks of bad news to hear such a happy diagnosis. She can stop taking her medicine on Sunday, and she doesn't even need a follow up visit. I knew that Isabel was feeling better- she has been sleeping again and playing like her old self, but to hear her improvement confirmed by a doctor was WONDERFUL. We are going to visit grandma today and for the first time in weeks I'm not concerned about leaving the house! All I can say is, "It's about time!"

MENSA baby!

2006-02-19T07:22:00.000-08:00

Isabel has two new skills. She can now clap and wave! They happened within a couple days of each other. One moment she acted like a sack of potatoes, the next minute, POOF! She's mimicking us! It's so cute- she waves backwards. She is repeating what she sees, so she waves toward herself. Tracy and I, of course, are convinced that her brain power is off the charts. We picture her winning spelling bees and appearing on Jeopardy. It's so exciting to see her develop into a thinking being. Some of the learning is good- like the clapping; and some is bad. She is starting to learn how to work her parents. She has figured out that if she cries on daddy long enough, mommy will come and put her to bed. This is worrisome. We are going to have to start handing this situation. Our little baby is no longer a little baby! Is she a genius? Well, we'll see.

Isabel's first fear

2006-02-16T18:44:00.000-08:00

Isabel is now scared of the doctor's office. I had to take her in last night because her fever went up again. She has had an ear infection for almost two weeks! Because she is not responding to her oral medications, the doctor recommended a shot. It was a large dose and it had to be given in both legs. We had a follow up appointment today, and she KNEW the office was a place of pain. Every time the doctor pulled out a medical instrument, she freaked. As long as the doctor was just talking she was fine. The second he tried to examine her, she cried. She was so afraid of getting another shot! Unfortunately, she needed another dose, and so another shot was given. As soon as the nurse came in with the syringe, she screamed. She knew what was coming. I really hope that she doesn't start associating the doctor with unpleasant memories. We have another appointment Monday.......!

The Saga Continues.....

2006-02-15T17:47:00.000-08:00

Another day, another fever. Around 1:00 this afternoon, Isabel temperature hit 102 degrees. Again. After 2 weeks of sickness, I am tired of this! I took her to the doctor tonight, and as it turns out, her ear infection hasn't gone away. In fact, it's worse. She now has puss behind her eardrums. What started out as a minor ear infection has turned into something long term and serious. She has taken 2 types of antibiotics, and tonight received shots. Hopefully this will do the trick and will be the end of a very long infection. I'm so tired of my daughter feeling miserable. It's tough. My greatest wish is that by this time tomorrow I will never write another blog regarding an ear infection ever again!

Olympics, anyone?

2006-02-14T07:36:00.000-08:00

Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you- I am NOT a sports fan. My pulse does rise a bit when the OSU Buckeyes enter the football field every fall, but mostly I turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the rallying cry of fanatical fans. However, every couple of years something magical happens. The OLYMPICS! I become obsessed. For some reason, from the time they enter the stadium in opening ceremonies to the final gold medal I can't seem to tear my eyes from the television. I don't know a thing about any of these games- snowboarding? ski jumping? pairs skating? Doesn't matter. I don't need to know how to do these sports to root for the USA like a blind fool. There's just something about seeing my country do well and act like true sportsmen and women. It's going to be a great week! Go team USA!!

Why I'm NOT Mother of the Year

2006-02-12T17:35:00.000-08:00

Isabel has been a very cranky girl. For the past 24-36 hours, she has been crying, fussing, and not sleeping well. She has also had a annoyingly runny nose. So, being the BRILLIANT mother that I am, I just thought it was her being sick. (She has had a persistent ear infection for weeks, and I just figured this was one of the phases.) It wasn't until I was giving Isabel her nightly bath when she leaned WAY back, opened her mouth, and gave her mama a clue. She is getting her third tooth! We gave her a dab of teething gel, and POOF! Isabel was a happy girl. We have suffered with her for over a day because no one bothered to check her gums. It's not like it's her first tooth, either. We know that crying, night waking, and a runny nose are the signs! To sum it up..... I will NOT be winning Mother of the Year. I will, however, be winning the "Duh" award, the "Why did I ignore the signs?" award, and the ever popular, "Stupid Mama" award. Nevertheless, we in the Kitchel home are very excited about our little girl's next big step. Front teeth, here we come!

Lazy Day

2006-02-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

What is so great about laying around the house for a day? EVERYTHING. We are taking a much needed day off here in the Kitchel house. It has been a crazy couple of weeks with all the sick people, trips, and stress. Today we are being lazy, lazy, lazy. It's brilliant. I'd write more, but I really just don't have the motivation. Besides, the couch is beckoning....

Grandma helps out......again.

2006-02-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

It was inevitable I suppose. I was surrounded by unhealthy people for a week, then I took a trip where I hardly slept and ran around for days. So now I'm sick. So sick, in fact, that I can't take care of Isabel. My husband had to go in to work today, so my mom came down to help....again. It was so great of her to come down for the day so I could lay in bed and recover. It's tough- all I want to do is hold Isabel after being away from her for days, and now I can't because I'm afraid I'll give her my germs. Tracy's been a champ- he's running around doing all the work; I think he almost cried with relief when my mom showed up to help! I hope I feel better soon. Pray that everyone else here stays well- we can't handle any more sick people!!

Disney World!

2006-02-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

So I'm home from Florida. It was a great trip! Besides the temperature being in the low 70's, I also got to visit with my brother who I haven't seen in over a year. (He's the one with Mickey.) Tracy, (the one with the ears) had a conference in Orlando, so I tagged along. I missed Isabel, but she had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa and it was nice to have some time off as a mommy. We laughed because we figured we were the only parents in the world who left their daughter with relatives so they could go to Disney World alone!! We ran around the parks for 2 days, ate junk food, and acted like idiots. It was a blast! It was so nice to have some time with my brother. He's a cool guy and I don't get to see him often. Isabel is now very upset with me. She didn't realize we were gone until we came home. Now she won't let me out of her sight! I think she's afraid I'll leave again! Neither of us can wait until she's old enough to go to Disney World with us. The whole vacation Tracy and I were looking at each other saying, "Isabel will really like that when she's older," and "Won't Isabel get a kick out of that when she comes down here?" All and all a fantastic trip.

On the rebound

2006-02-04T10:35:00.000-08:00

Isabel is finally on the road to recovery. Her fever is much lower, and she has started playing again. It's SO nice to see her smile!! A sight I haven't seen in days. The only negative is that tomorrow I am going out of town, so she will be with family. They will take great care of her, I'm sure, but I hate being away when she isn't well. Right now she needs her mama! Of course, I am headed to Orlando, where it is 70 degrees and sunny, so that does soften the blow a bit. I am also visiting my brother who I haven't seen in over a year. (He works at Disney World.) I'm so excited! My next blog might be from Disney World! Here's hoping that Isabel makes a full recovery in the next 24 hours. I know she's better, but I would love it if she was completely well before I left. Only time will tell.

Breast+Bottle=Guilty Mama

2006-02-03T10:46:00.000-08:00

My daughter was in the hospital last night. Her fever spiked at 105 degrees at 11:00 and we went to the ER. During the 4 hours that we were there, I started thinking......what could I have done to prevent this from happening?

I am a big believer in breast feeding. That is why, despite my troubles with it, I spent 6 months giving only breast milk to Isabel. For a while I really struggled, and spent many nights crying because I couldn't feed my baby. Oh, how guilty I felt! I envied the moms that fed their children by mixing powder and water with seemingly no personal thoughts of failure. By the time she started eating solids, I was DONE. I happily chucked my nursing bras and breast pump to the wind and embraced the world of formula and bottles. I was happy, my husband was happy, and Isabel never seemed to notice. All was well. Until last night.

As we were sitting in the waiting room of the ER with my daughter sicker then she's ever been, I had a moment of regret. What if by stopping the breast milk, which is known to boost a child's immune system, I opened the door for Isabel to be sick? Oh, how guilty I felt! And that's when it hit me.

THE GUILT NEVER LEFT.

I had assumed when I stopped breastfeeding, I would also stop feeling like a failure if something went wrong. What was once guilt about whether my child was getting enough food, or if I was letting her down if she wouldn't latch turned into another kind of guilt. I started feeling like I was partly responsible for my daughter's illness. No, I didn't directly give her the germs, but maybe I didn't do enough to help her fight them off.

I guess no matter how you package it, a mom will always feel partly responsible for her baby's troubles, and sadly, troubles are unavoidable. Did I make the right decision to stop breastfeeding? For me, yes. For Isabel? All I know is that right now I feel incredibly guilty.

Grandma helps out

2006-02-02T10:28:00.000-08:00

First Isabel had a cold. Then she had an ear infection. Then, (because it wasn't quite enough misery) she now has a virus. My mom is here to visit and instead of going shopping and playing with Isabel, she's helping me clean up baby vomit and watching her while I run to the store to get some Pedialite. Fun times. At the very least, she's keeping me calm while Isabel suffers. God bless mothers.

Ear infections are from the devil

2006-02-01T19:36:00.000-08:00

So, Isabel has an ear infection. She cannot seem to shake this stupid illness. Every day she becomes more and more sick. We went to the doctor yesterday, got some medication and peace on mind, and yet 24 hours later she is in a fever induced stupor. I hate it when she's sick. I panic, lose sleep, and take her temperature at least every 10 minutes (I mean, it might have gone up since 7 minutes ago!) I would give anything to take this pain away. I'm blogging at 10:30 at night while my husband takes a turn with the her because even though I'm exhausted, Lord knows I'm not going to sleep while her fever is 102 degrees. It's going to be a long night......

Advice

2006-01-31T07:33:00.000-08:00

Every new mom is given lots of advice. Relatives, friends, well meaning people at the grocery store, etc. Bombarded by mixed messages from all angles, I have had to sort through the massive pile of books, internet articles, and doctor pamphlets to decide how I want my daughter to be raised. Now, I am admittedly a proud person who would rather fail on her own then admit I got help from someone. When it comes to my daughter, however, I often have to swallow my pride to do what is best for her well being. It got me thinking; what advice do I wish I had listened to, and what am I glad I ignored?

I wish I had listened when someone said........

-Your baby is NOT going to die of SIDS. (I panicked about this for months.)
-You should put more clothes on her at night. (I admit she was very poorly dressed for a while.)
-Try to avoid a C-section. (I did not like mine and do not want to do it again.)
-You are allowed to breastfeed in public. (I hid in bathroom stalls and empty rooms for months.)
-It's ok to put on a baby video when you need to get something done. (I need to alter my thinking that TV is going to be the downfall of my child.)

I am so glad I ignored people when they said.......

-Co-sleeping will kill your child. (She slept with us for months and is alive and well.)
-Feeding her solids will help her sleep better. (A lie. She slept when she was ready.)
-You are a bad mother for giving her formula. (I was DONE with breastfeeding, but still felt like I failed when I stopped at 6 months.)
-Let her cry it out. (I never understood the point when she's a little baby.)
-Always put your baby's needs before your own or your husband's. (If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy....)

Well, that's the list. I suppose the important thing is that Isabel is healthy, happy, and well loved by her whole family. No matter what advice I choose to accept or ignore, I know that it comes from a good place by people that only want the very best for someone they care for. In the meantime, I continue to learn as a mother. Any advice?

Isabel is sick

2006-01-31T05:24:00.000-08:00

Isabel is not feeling well this week. Here she is at dinner last night. She fell asleep in the middle of her sweet potatoes. Normally my daughter is a very focused eater! So we are going to the doctor today, but of course I will have to cancel plans of my own in order to do so. Figures. If she weren't so miserable I would be grouchy about this. But she looks up at me with her fever tinted eyes and all I want to do is rush over to the clinic, kick down the door, and yell, "FIX HER!! Can't you people see she's sick?!" Doctor's office, here we come.

Finger Foods!

2006-01-30T12:13:00.000-08:00

So the time has come for Isabel to start snacking on some real foods. Favorites? Rice Krispies, Cheerios, and Graham Crackers. She tends to get more on her fingers and clothes then her mouth, but she loves it.

Here goes nothing.....

2006-01-30T10:08:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new blog! Bound to be one of the most boring sites in cyberland. I am determind to bore you to tears with tales of poopy diapers, teething problems, and complaints of how I never get out of the house. If you are still interested, read on dear friends.........