Author Archives: Chrissie

Head Over Heels

Leina is turning out to be a tough little nugget. Don’t let the fair skin and big blue eyes fool you. This kid is sturdy. How do I know this?

Well, yesterday she fell off the table.

I know what you’re thinking. “What sort of crazy mom puts a rolly-polly eight month old on a table unattened?” First off, she wasn’t just on the table. Technically, she was securely strapped into her bouncy chairs which sits on the table. Now, Leina loves her bouncy chair. I cannot stress this enough. Almost from birth, she has pirched in the middle of the kitchen table, able to watch all the excitement from her first row seat.

Lately, however, bouncy chair has gone from a sedinatry existance to a major activity site. She leans over the edge to grab at toys, rocks back and forth to whatever crazy baby music she jives to, and lunges forward to take a swing at anything within her grasp. I’ve gotten so used to all this action, I barely even notice it.

But yesterday, I strapped her in the chair and began prepping her evening meal of boobie cereal and prunes when I heard it. That sound every mother dreads. A crash, thump, and scream. I don’t know how she did it but somehow she managed to tip the chair forward and over the edge of the table. She fell face forward onto the hard linoleum floor. My mom got there first and snatched her up. I was expecting a screaming, inconsolable baby but amazingly enough, after a few moments of rocking, Leina was all smiles and laughs. Both my mom and I have poured over her body and cannot find a single mark on her. Since neither of us saw the fall, we can only surmise that somehow the chair hit the ground first and broke her fall.

Leina still sits in bouncy chair only now, Elmo has quick clamped it to the table. That thing ain’t goin no where, thank you very much and I can now add to Leina’s baby book…survived fall off table.

Clearly, she has inherited her mother’s thick skull!

A Little Knowledge

Another birthday is upon me. As I reflect on this past year, I realize that most of what I’ve learned has to do with babies. No surprise really since last April I was in my last trimester with Munch. So what did my 30th year of life teach me?

First, pee every time you get the chance, even if you don’t think you have to go.

I don’t know about you, but growing up, my mom was always telling us to use the bathroom “while you have the chance.” Before we walked out the door, we were shepared to the bathroom. After lunch in the mall, we were trundled off to the potty, protesting that we didn’t have to go. What I didn’t realize, until now, is that my mom was right. Alway take advantage to a bathroom break whether it’s needed or not. I can not tell you how many times I’ve found myself with Leina sleeping peacefully in my arms while I squirm and crunch trying not to think of running water or bursting dams. Before I leave for a store, I always hit the bathroom because it takes a contortionist to manuever a stroller with small child into a bathroom stall. And lets face it, peeing with someone watching (even your own kid) is kind of creepy. So bathroom breaks….good things.

Second, always keep Cheerios on you. I think they should rename them Happios. I have run out of fingers and toes to count the number of times Cheerios have managed to distract and engage Leina at a crucial moment. Crying in the carseat? Jam some O’s into her mouth and watch her munch happily away. Fussing in high chair? A liberal sprinkling of O’s in her tray will buy you enough time to load a few dishes or wipe down a counter. Stuck in the world’s slowest 12 Item or Less “Express” Lane? That’s right, it’s Cheerios to the rescue! I have a bag in my purse, a bag in the car and another stashed in her stroller. If you could buy stock in just Cheerios, I’d be a major share holder.

And finally, the last lesson this last year has taught me is to lower my expectations. Before Munch, a productive morning would be to call back four clients, draft a discovery request and haggle over the production of priviledged documents. Now, a good morning means I’ve brushed my teeth and eaten something. My goal for the day has been reduced from 8 billable hours to getting out of pj, a comb through my hair and the baby fed. Sometimes when Kevin comes home and asks what I did during the day, all I can point to is a pile of dirty diapers, a room strewn with baby toys and a stack to baby dishes in the sink. And that’s considered a good day!

So it’s only taken me 30 years to learn to pee often, eat cheerios and take my time. Am I a fast learner or what?

Back From San Diego

Munch and I are back in LA after a wonderful trip down to SD. It was a blast to get all the cousins together to play. We discovered a rather troubling fact, though. It appears that Leina is a toy hog. Yes, my sweet little daughter appears to be one of those annoying kids who always wants whatever toy the other kid is playing with. I can just see her kindergarden personal file… does not play well with others. She also appears to enjoying picking on those who are younger than her. Mainly, Sammy.

Poor little Sammy. He has just learned how to sit up and grab stuff. Only problem was, every time he managed to finally wrap his cubby little fingers around a toy, Leina would lean in and snatch it from is grasp. Unperturbed, he’d work on picking up something else. Once he succeeded, he’d only have a few seconds to revel in his accomplishment before Leina swooped in and snatched it from him again. Even funnier is when she gives him a push and he topples over. I have a hilarious sequence of photos showing this action and will post them once I get back home.

Kevin has been a busy beaver during my absence. He’s managed to quit his job and find new employment. Starting in May, he’ll be an engineer at Novellus. It’s located just south of Portland so it looks like when I get back home I’m going to have to start house hunting.

And, as if this isn’t enough change, the end of a Terry era has occurred. Yes, that’s right, my parents finally put Big Bear on the market and it sold in one day! They have been threatening to sell BB for years now and the timing was finally right. I will always remember hanging dry wall, installing showers and toilets, and reading books while sitting on ceiling joists while listening to mixed tapes made by my boyfriend. My dad also claims he will never forget those mixed tapes either since I forced him to listen to them over and over and over. Ah, the joys of youth!

So I’m treating my time here in PV as a vacation because I have a feeling once I get back to Portland, I’m going to have to kick it into high gear. Just the thought of packing gives me the willies. But Kevin will be making more money (a good thing) and be working less hours (a even better thing) so I’m pleased.

Touchdown!

Well, munchkin and I have safely arrived in LA and are settling in nicely. Leina is getting an obscene amount of grandparent lovin’. I don’t know if she’ll ever want to leave.

I’ve called Kevin and he sounds so sad and lonily with only Artie and those pesky cats to keep him company. I knew he was going to miss the munchkin. On our last night at home, I drew up the bath for Leina just like always and Kevin took her into her room to get nekked for bathtime. The water was ready and the towels laid out but no munchkin was in sight. I popped my head into her room to find our what was the hangup and I found Kevin sitting in the rocking chair, holding a totally clothed baby girl. He was just snuggling her and rocking her while she perched in his arms talking up a storm. Poor poppa.

Don’t worry Kev, we’ll be home soon!

Still Kicking

Kat called yesterday and made my day. She said only two things but they were like breaks of sunshine through overcast skies.

First, after listening to me grip about by mucusy, crabby, sicko baby, she offered to take her off my hands for a while so I could nap/rest as needed. Now, that’s a good friend!

Second (and more importantly), she gently reminded me that all kids get colds. This is the way of the world. And although it may seems like Leina is suffering and ungodly amount, in reality, she’s just going through normal baby trials. I guess being a mom and spending all day listening to her cough and sneeze, after a while, I’ve convinced myself that she has the world’s most deadliest cold and is on the edge of no return. Having a sane person gently suggest that maybe, just maybe, Leina is a normal child with a normal cold blew my mind.

After talking with Kat, I threw munchkin in the stroller and headed to the park during a sunbreak and what did I find? Every kid there had a cough just like Leina. Every kid there was using their sleeve as the world’s most convient tissue. Even more amazing, all the parents seem unfazed by all of the sneezing and coughing of their child. They were acting like it was normal!

That’s when it hit me. Ok, Leina is sick. Ok, she’s teething. But you know what? She is also OK and so am I.

Armed with the sudden insight, I felt my chest relax and my stomach unclench a little. I think we’re going to make it after all!

Oh yes, I’m sending out more Ofotos of the munchkin enjoying Cheerios. This one was my favorite. I bet you didn’t know that to truely enjoy your O’s, you must first place a few on your shoulder. This enhances their taste. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself and see!



By Our Fingernails…

So what’s worse than a baby getting in a tooth?

A baby who has FOUR teeth coming in at once.

What’s worse than a baby with four teeth coming in at once?

Having a mom who’s sick with the flu while her baby has four teeth coming in at once.

What’s worse than a baby with four teeth coming in at once with a mom who’s sick with the flu?

Having a baby with four teeth coming in at once who is also sick with the flu with a mom who’s sick too.

What’s worse than a baby, with four teeth coming in at once, sick with the flu with a mom who’s sick with the flu?

Having a baby with four teeth coming in at once who is also sick with the flu with a mom who’s sick too and having the dad have to go to work on the weekend while they are home sick.

What’s worse than a baby, with four teeth coming in at once, sick with the flu with a mom who’s sick with the flu and a dad who has to work during the weekend?

Having a baby with four teeth coming in at once who is also sick with the flu with a mom who’s sick too and the dad having to go to work on the weekend while they are home sick and when the dad comes home at 5pm from work on Sunday realizing that your sewer line is backed up and water is running from your kitchen sink down into your basement and into your electrical box!!!!!

So that was Sunday.

Today, things were moderately better. Kevin called into work and told them he was taking a day off. After much cursing and exclaimations of disgust, he managed to unplug the sink line and we have a kitchen sink. However, the munchkin spent the whole day in our arms screaming and/or coughing with mucus running out her nose at an alarming rate. She was inconsolable. I spend much of the day curled on the sofa trying not to cry myself while my own nose ran and my lungs were racked by a wicked cough.

Tomorrow Kevin has to go back to work and I don’t know if I’m going to make it on my own. I suppose it really depends on how good of a sleep I get tonight. Munchkin was up most of the night crying last night and when I wasn’t trying to calm her down I was lying in bed listening to her sobs.

Please, can someone fast forward through this week to the weekend? It’s only Monday and I’m already hanging on by the utmost tips of my fingernails…..